Hinge structure and electronic device including the same

ABSTRACT

A hinge structure includes a first rotary bracket that rotates about a first virtual axis and a second rotary bracket that rotates about a second virtual axis The hinge structure also includes a fixed bracket that includes the first rotary bracket and the second rotary bracket fixed thereto. The hinge further structure includes a first rotary member, a second rotary member, a first arm and a second arm. Additionally, the hinge structure includes a cam part that includes bumpy structures. A first elastic body is mounted on the first rotary member and supports at least one side of the cam part and second elastic body is mounted on the second rotary member and supports at least an opposite side of the cam part. The hinge structure also includes a support bracket that supports the first elastic body and the second elastic body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0050282 filed on Apr. 30, 2019in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a hingestructure.

2. Description of Related Art

A portable electronic device such as a smartphone may provide variousfunctions, such as telephone call, video playback, Internet search, andthe like, based on various types of applications. A user may want to usethe aforementioned various functions through a wider screen. However,portability may be decreased with an increase in screen size.Accordingly, a foldable portable electronic device capable of increasingportability using a foldable structure has been developed.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination hasbeen made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

In the foldable electronic device, a hinge structure may be connectedwith housing structures adjacent thereto, and during rotation of thehousing structures through a predetermined angle, the hinge structuremay perform rotary motion while supporting the housing structures.Various structures need to be disposed to support hinge motions of thehousing structures. However, the foldable electronic device having arelatively narrow folding area has a small space for an arrangement ofthe various structures, and therefore it is difficult to arrange thevarious structures for supporting the hinge motions.

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentionedproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to providea hinge structure for optimizing an arrangement of structures related tohinge motion, and an electronic device including the hinge structure.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide a hinge structure havingvarious functions related to hinge motion, and an electronic deviceincluding the hinge structure.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a hinge structureincludes a first rotary bracket that rotates about a first virtual axiswithin a first range, a second rotary bracket that rotates about asecond virtual axis within a second range, a fixed bracket having thefirst rotary bracket and the second rotary bracket fixed thereto, afirst rotary member that rotates about a first axis of rotationdifferent from the first virtual axis, a second rotary member thatrotates about a second axis of rotation different from the secondvirtual axis, a first arm including a first basic body, a firstconnecting part disposed on one side of the first basic body andconnected with the first rotary bracket, a first insertion part havingone side mounted on the first rotary member, and a first rotary camdisposed adjacent to the first insertion part, a second arm including asecond basic body, a second connecting part disposed on one side of thesecond basic body and connected with the second rotary bracket, a secondinsertion part having one side mounted on the second rotary member, anda second rotary cam disposed adjacent to the second insertion part, acam part having bumpy structures corresponding to the first rotary camand the second rotary cam, a first elastic body that is mounted on thefirst rotary member and that supports at least one side of the cam partin a direction toward the first arm, a second elastic body that ismounted on the second rotary member and that supports at least anopposite side of the cam part in a direction toward the second arm, anda support bracket that supports the first elastic body and the secondelastic body.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronicdevice includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge structurethat connects the first housing and the second housing and supportshinge motion of the first housing or the second housing, a hinge housingthat surrounds the hinge structure, and a flexible display disposed onthe first housing and the second housing. At least part of the flexibledisplay is attached to at least part of an upper side of the firsthousing or an upper side of the second housing, and at least part of acentral portion of the flexible display is disposed to have a specifiedgap from the hinge structure. The hinge structure includes a firstrotary bracket that is coupled with the first housing and that rotatesabout a first virtual axis within a first range, a second rotary bracketthat is coupled with the second housing and that rotates about a secondvirtual axis within a second range, a fixed bracket having the firstrotary bracket and the second rotary bracket fixed thereto, a first armthat is connected with the first rotary bracket on one side thereof andthat has a first rotary cam formed on an opposite side thereof, a secondarm that is connected with the second rotary bracket on one side thereofand that has a second rotary cam formed on an opposite side thereof, anda cam part having bumpy structures corresponding to the first rotary camand the second rotary cam.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronicdevice includes a first rotary member that rotates about a first axis, asecond rotary member that rotates about a second axis, a first armhaving a first connecting part, a second connecting part, and a firstcam structure, the first connecting part being connected with the firstrotary member, and the second connecting part being connected with thesecond rotary member, a second arm having a third connecting part, afourth connecting part, and a second cam structure, a cam memberincluding a first cam engaged with the first cam structure and a secondcam engaged with the second cam structure, a first elastic body that isconnected with the first rotary member and that applies elastic force tothe cam member, a second elastic body that is connected with the secondrotary member and that applies elastic force to the cam member, a firstrotary bracket having a first slide hole and a first rail, a secondrotary bracket having a second slide hole and a second rail, and a fixedbracket having a first guide groove corresponding to the first rail anda second guide groove corresponding to the second rail. The first slidehole of the first rotary bracket and the second connecting part areconnected through a first fixing part, and the second slide hole of thesecond rotary bracket and the fourth connecting part are connectedthrough a second fixing part. The first fixing part slides in the firstslide hole to correspond to rotation of the first arm, and the secondfixing part slides in the second slide hole to correspond to rotation ofthe second arm. The first rotary bracket rotates about a third axis, andthe second rotary bracket rotates about a fourth axis.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” aswell as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term“or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and“associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean toinclude, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be containedwithin, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with,cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to orwith, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller”means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least oneoperation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware orsoftware, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should benoted that the functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout thispatent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understandthat in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, aswell as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device in afirst state according to various embodiments;

FIG. 1B illustrates a view of one example of the exterior of theelectronic device in a second state according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of one example of hinge structures and a hingehousing of the electronic device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of one side of a hinge structure applied tothe electronic device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the hinge structureof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of a cam structure of the hinge structureaccording to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of a stopper connecting structure of the hingestructure according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view of a first state of some components of theelectronic device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a view of a first specified angle state of a firsthinge structure according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a view of a second specified angle state of the firsthinge structure according to various embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a view of a second state of some structures of theelectronic device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates a view of an additional structure of the first hingestructure according to various embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates a view of one example of a folded state of theelectronic device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 illustrates a view of another example of a folded state of theelectronic device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 illustrates a view of a hinge housing and hinge structuresaccording to various embodiments; and

FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the hinge structureillustrated in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A through 15, discussed below, and the various embodiments usedto describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure may be described withreference to accompanying drawings. Accordingly, those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that modifications, equivalents, and/oralternatives on the various embodiments described herein can bevariously made without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure. With regard to description of drawings, similar componentsmay be marked by similar reference numerals.

In the disclosure, the expressions “have”, “may have”, “include” and“comprise”, or “may include” and “may comprise” used herein indicateexistence of corresponding features (e.g., components such as numericvalues, functions, operations, or parts) but do not exclude presence ofadditional features.

In the disclosure, the expressions “A or B”, “at least one of A or/andB”, or “one or more of A or/and B”, and the like may include any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example,the term “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A orB” may refer to all of the case (1) where at least one A is included,the case (2) where at least one B is included, or the case (3) whereboth of at least one A and at least one B are included.

The terms, such as “first”, “second”, and the like used in thedisclosure may be used to refer to various components regardless of theorder and/or the priority and to distinguish the relevant componentsfrom other components, but do not limit the components. For example, “afirst user device” and “a second user device” indicate different userdevices regardless of the order or priority. For example, withoutdeparting the scope of the disclosure, a first component may be referredto as a second component, and similarly, a second component may bereferred to as a first component.

It will be understood that when a component (e.g., a first component) isreferred to as being “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to”or “connected to” another component (e.g., a second component), it maybe directly coupled with/to or connected to the other component or anintervening component (e.g., a third component) may be present. Incontrast, when a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to asbeing “directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” anothercomponent (e.g., a second component), it should be understood that thereare no intervening component (e.g., a third component).

According to the situation, the expression “configured to” used in thedisclosure may be used as, for example, the expression “suitable for”,“having the capacity to”, “designed to”, “adapted to”, “made to”, or“capable of”. The term “configured to” must not mean only “specificallydesigned to” in hardware. Instead, the expression “a device configuredto” may mean that the device is “capable of” operating together withanother device or other parts. For example, a “processor configured to(or set to) perform A, B, and C” may mean a dedicated processor (e.g.,an embedded processor) for performing a corresponding operation or ageneric-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or anapplication processor) which performs corresponding operations byexecuting one or more software programs which are stored in a memorydevice.

Terms used in the disclosure are used to describe specified embodimentsand are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The terms ofa singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified. Allthe terms used herein, which include technical or scientific terms, mayhave the same meaning that is generally understood by a person skilledin the art. It will be further understood that terms, which are definedin a dictionary and commonly used, should also be interpreted as iscustomary in the relevant related art and not in an idealized or overlyformal unless expressly so defined in various embodiments of thedisclosure. In some cases, even if terms are terms which are defined inthe disclosure, they may not be interpreted to exclude embodiments ofthe disclosure.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosuremay include at least one of, for example, smartphones, tablet personalcomputers (PCs), mobile phones, video telephones, electronic bookreaders, desktop PCs, laptop PCs, netbook computers, workstations,servers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players(PMPs), Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG-1 or MPEG-2) Audio Layer 3(MP3) players, mobile medical devices, cameras, or wearable devices.According to various embodiments, the wearable device may include atleast one of an accessory type (e.g., watches, rings, bracelets,anklets, necklaces, glasses, contact lens, or head-mounted-devices(HMDs)), a fabric or garment-integrated type (e.g., an electronicapparel), a body-attached type (e.g., a skin pad or tattoos), or abio-implantable type (e.g., an implantable circuit).

Hereinafter, electronic devices according to various embodiments will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thedisclosure, the term “user” may refer to a person who uses an electronicdevice or may refer to a device (e.g., an artificial intelligenceelectronic device) that uses the electronic device.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device in afirst state according to various embodiments, and FIG. 1B illustrates aview of one example of the exterior of the electronic device in a secondstate according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the electronic device 100 (or the foldableelectronic device) according to an embodiment may include a housing 101including a first housing 110 and a second housing 120, a display 160(e.g., a flexible display), and a hinge housing 150 having hingestructures 200 disposed on the inside thereof. FIG. 1A illustrates aperspective view of the electronic device 100 in the first state (e.g.,a flat state or an unfolded state), and FIG. 1B is a perspective view ofthe electronic device 100 in the second state (e.g., a folded state).Additionally or alternatively, the electronic device 100 may furtherinclude a first cover 119 that covers a rear side of the first housing110 and a second cover 129 that covers a rear side of the second housing120.

According to various embodiments, depending on an arrangement, the firsthousing 110 may be disposed to be continuous with the second housing 120(e.g., when a central portion 163 of the display 160 is unfolded to beflat or when the housing 101 is in a flat state), or may be disposedside by side with the second housing 120. Alternatively, when thecentral portion 163 of the display 160 is folded, one side of the firsthousing 110 may be disposed to face one side of the second housing 120.

For example, at least part of the first housing 110 may be formed of ametallic material, or at least part of the first housing 110 may beformed of a non-metallic material. For example, the first housing 110may be formed of a material having a predetermined stiffness to supportat least part of the display 160. One area of the display 160 (e.g., anupper portion 161 of the display 160 and part of the central portion 163thereof) may be disposed on at least part of a front side of the firsthousing 110. At least part of the first housing 110 may be bonded withthe upper portion 161 of the display 160. Alternatively, at least partof a periphery of the front side of the first housing 110 may be bondedwith a periphery of the upper portion 161 of the display 160. In anothercase, one side of an upper portion of the front side of the firsthousing 110 may be bonded with one side of the upper portion 161 of thedisplay 160. In this regard, a first adhesive layer 167 a may bedisposed in at least a partial area between the first housing 110 andthe upper portion 161 of the display 160. The first housing 110 may havean empty space therein, or may be coupled with the first cover 119 toform an empty space inside. Electronic components (e.g., a printedcircuit board, and components, such as at least one processor, at leastone memory, and a battery, which are mounted on the printed circuitboard) that are used to drive the display 160 may be disposed in theempty space.

According to various embodiments, edges of the first housing 110 (e.g.,the remaining three edges other than the edge facing the second housing120) may protrude above a bottom surface of a central portion of thefirst housing 110 by a specified height to surround at least one edge ofthe display 160. Alternatively, a sidewall may be disposed on at leastone of the edges of the first housing 110 to face at least one edge ofthe display 160. For example, sidewalls may be formed on the remainingthree edges of the first housing 110 other than the edge facing thesecond housing 120 to have a specified height. The edge portion of thefirst housing 110 that faces the second housing 120 may include adepression, at least part of which has a predetermined curvature suchthat at least part of the hinge housing 150 is disposed therein. Forexample, the first housing 110 may include, on the edge portion facingthe second housing 120, a first step 111 in which to receive part of thehinge housing 150 on which a first hinge structure 200 a is mounted anda second step 112 in which to receive part of the hinge housing 150 onwhich a second hinge structure 200 b is mounted.

According to various embodiments, depending on an arrangement, thesecond housing 120 may be disposed side by side with the first housing110, or may be disposed such that at least one side faces one side ofthe first housing 110 (e.g., the side on which the display 160 isdisposed). The second housing 120 may be formed of the same material asthat of the first housing 110. The second housing 120 may be disposed tobe horizontally or vertically symmetric to the first housing 110, andthe remaining area of the display 160 (e.g., a lower portion 162 of thedisplay 160 and an opposite side of the central portion 163 thereof)other than the area disposed on the first housing 110 may be disposed ona front side of the second housing 120. At least part of the secondhousing 120 may be bonded with the lower portion 162 of the display 160.Alternatively, a periphery of the front side of the second housing 120may be bonded with a periphery of the lower portion 162 of the display160. In another case, one side of a lower portion of the front side ofthe second housing 120 may be bonded with one side of the lower portion162 of the display 160. In this regard, a second adhesive layer 167 bmay be disposed in at least a partial area between the second housing120 and the lower portion 162 of the display 160. Similarly to the firsthousing 110, the second housing 120 may have an empty space therein, ormay be coupled with the second cover 129 to form an empty space.Electronic components used to drive the display 160 may be disposed inthe empty space.

According to various embodiments, edges of the second housing 120 (e.g.,the remaining three edges other than the edge facing the first housing110) may protrude above a bottom surface of a central portion of thesecond housing 120 by a specified height to surround an opposite edge ofthe display 160. Alternatively, similarly to the sidewalls formed on thefirst housing 110, a sidewall may be disposed on at least one of theedges of the second housing 120 to face at least one edge of the display160. For example, sidewalls may be formed on the remaining three edgesof the second housing 120 other than the edge facing the first housing110 to have a specified height.

The edge portion of the second housing 120 that faces the first housing110 may include a depression, at least part of which has a predeterminedcurvature such that at least part of the hinge housing 150 is disposedtherein. For example, the second housing 120 may include, on the edgeportion facing the first housing 110, a third step 121 in which toreceive part of the hinge housing 150 on which the first hinge structure200 a is mounted and a fourth step 122 in which to receive part of thehinge housing 150 on which the second hinge structure 200 b is mounted.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device 100 may includeat least one sensor disposed on one side of the first housing 110 or thesecond housing 120 and related to operation of a specific function ofthe electronic device 100. The sensor may include, for example, at leastone of a proximity sensor, an illuminance sensor, an iris sensor, animage sensor (or a camera), or a fingerprint sensor.

According to various embodiments, depending on a folded or flat state ofthe electronic device 100, the hinge housing 150 may be hidden by oneside of the first housing 110 and one side of the second housing 120(e.g., in a flat state of the housing 101), or may be exposed to theoutside (e.g., in a folded state of the housing 101). For example, asillustrated in FIG. 1A, when the first housing 110 and the secondhousing 120 are disposed side by side, the hinge housing 150 may behidden by the first housing 110 and the second housing 120. Asillustrated in FIG. 1B, when one side of the first housing 110 and oneside of the second housing 120 face each other, at least part of thehinge housing 150 may be exposed to the outside from between one edge ofthe first housing 110 and one edge of the second housing 120 (e.g., theedges of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 that face eachother in a flat state).

According to various embodiments, at least part of the display 160 maybe flexible. According to an embodiment, the display 160 may include theupper portion 161 or the first area that is disposed on the firsthousing 110, the lower portion 162 or the second area that is disposedon the second housing 120, and the central portion 163 or the centralarea to which the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 areadjacent. According to various embodiments, the entirety of the display160 may have flexibility. Alternatively, at least part of the centralportion 163 of the display 160 may be flexible. The central portion 163of the display 160 may be disposed such that the first housing 110 andthe second housing 120 are not bonded thereto. For example, the centralportion 163 of the display 160 may be disposed to be spaced apart fromthe front sides of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 at apredetermined interval. The upper portion 161 of the display 160 may bebonded with at least part of the first housing 110, and the lowerportion 162 of the display 160 may be bonded with at least part of thesecond housing 120. In this regard, the first adhesive layer 167 a maybe disposed in at least a partial area between the display 160 and thefirst housing 110, and the second adhesive layer 167 b may be disposedin at least a partial area between the display 160 and the secondhousing 120. The first adhesive layer 167 a and the second adhesivelayer 167 b may be disposed on only the peripheries of the first housing110 and the second housing 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of one example of the hinge structures and thehinge housing of the electronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, according to an embodiment, the electronic device100 may include a plurality of hinge structures. FIG. 2 illustrates astate in which the first hinge structure 200 a and the second hingestructure 200 b are disposed on the hinge housing 150. However, thedisclosure is not limited thereto, and three or more hinge structuresmay be disposed on the hinge housing 150 as needed.

The first hinge structure 200 a may be disposed on one side of the hingehousing 150 (e.g., on a left side with respect to the illustrateddrawing). The first hinge structure 200 a may be coupled with a leftside of the first housing 110 a and a left side of the second housing120 and may rotate about a horizontal axis of the hinge housing 150within a specified range. The first hinge structure 200 a may bedisposed to be symmetric to the second hinge structure 200 b withrespect to a central portion of the hinge housing 150.

The second hinge structure 200 b may be disposed on an opposite side ofthe hinge housing 150 (e.g., on a right side with respect to theillustrated drawing). The second hinge structure 200 b may be coupledwith a right side of the first housing 110 a and a right side of thesecond housing 120 and may rotate about the horizontal axis of the hingehousing 150 within the specified range. The second hinge structure 200 bmay be disposed to be symmetric to the first hinge structure 200 a withrespect to the central portion of the hinge housing 150. The secondhinge structure 200 b may include the same structure and configurationas the first hinge structure 200 a. However, the second hinge structure200 b may differ in position from the first hinge structure 200 a.

The hinge housing 150 may have a semi-cylindrical shape with an emptyspace inside, or may have the shape of a longitudinal half of a pipewith opposite ends closed. According to various embodiments, the hingehousing 150 may include a flat bottom portion 151_3, and a first rib151_1 and a second rib 151_2 that are formed on opposite sides of thebottom portion 151_3 and that have a predetermined curvature. The firstrib 151_1 and the second rib 151_2 may be symmetrically disposed on theopposite sides of the bottom portion 151_3. The hinge housing 150 mayhave a gradually decreasing width toward the left and right sides fromthe central portion thereof with respect to the illustrated drawing. Thehinge housing 150 may have at least one partition wall 158 formedtherein, and the at least one partition wall 158 may divide an interiorspace of the hinge housing 150 into spaces. At least part of the firsthinge structure 200 a and at least part of the second hinge structure200 b may be mounted in the spaces divided from each other. The hingehousing 150 may have screen walls 151 a and 151 b formed at left andright ends thereof. Each of the screen walls 151 a and 151 b may furtherprotrude upward beyond a peripheral portion to prevent the inside of thehinge housing 150 from being visible from the outside. The hinge housing150 may be formed of the same material as that of the first hingestructure 200 a or the second hinge structure 200 b.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of one side of a hinge structure applied tothe electronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3, the hinge structure 200 a or 200 b may be any oneof the first hinge structure 200 a and the second hinge structure 200 bdescribed above. The hinge structure 200 a or 200 b may include abracket structure 210, an arm detent structure 220, a gear structure230, and a detent support structure 240.

A central portion of the bracket structure 210 may be fixed to the hingehousing 150, and opposite wings (e.g., rotary brackets) of the bracketstructure 210 may be coupled with the arm detent structure 220 whilebeing coupled to the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

One side of the arm detent structure 220 may be connected with thebracket structure 210 through fixing parts 251 and 252, and a mountingangle may be changed as the arm detent structure 220 slides along alateral portion of the bracket structure 210 depending on hinge motion.The arm detent structure 220 may include a cam structure, and the camstructure may be engaged with a cam part 241 disposed in the detentsupport structure 240 and may provide a feeling of detent during hingemotions of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

The gear structure 230 may be disposed between the bracket structure 210and the arm detent structure 220. The gear structure 230 may transmitforce to allow the second housing 120 to rotate together when the firsthousing 110 rotates. In this regard, the gear structure 230 may includea plurality of shaft gears and idle gears.

The detent support structure 240 may be fixed to the inside of the hingehousing 150 and may provide specified pressure to the arm detentstructure 220. In this regard, the detent support structure 240 mayinclude at least one elastic body and may push the cam part 241 towardthe arm detent structure 220 based on the elastic force of the elasticbody, and the cam part 241 may support cam operation while being engagedwith a rotary cam structure of the arm detent structure 220.

As described above, the hinge structure 200 a or 200 b according to theembodiment may include the bracket structure 210 that is coupled withthe hinge housing 150 and the housings 110 and 120 and that supportsfolding or unfolding of the display 160 placed thereon, the arm detentstructure 220 that is connected to the bracket structure 210 and thatprovides a feeling of detent, the gear structure 230 that supportssimultaneous operation of the first housing 110 and the second housing120, and the detent support structure 240 that supports the arm detentstructure 220 and to which shafts of the gear structure 230 are fixed.The hinge structure 200 a or 200 b may implement folding or unfolding ofthe display 160 by rotating about virtual axes formed above the surfaceof the bracket structure 210. The hinge structure 200 a or 200 b mayprovide a feeling of detent based on the cam structure and may supportsimultaneous hinge motions of the housings 110 and 120 based on the gearstructure 230 to suppress torsion of the housings 110 and 120.Furthermore, the hinge structure 200 a or 200 b may not only support aflat state or a folded state of the housings 110 and 120, but may alsosupport a mounting state at a specified angle, for example, 30 degreesor 60 degrees (e.g., the angle between the front side of the firsthousing 110 and the front side of the second housing 120).

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the hinge structureof FIG. 3.

In the following description, the first hinge structure of the hingestructures 200 a and 200 b will be described as an example. The firsthinge structure 200 a, which will be described below with reference toFIG. 4, may have the same structure and configuration as the secondhinge structure 200 b described above.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first hinge structure 200 a may include a fixedbracket 213, a first rotary bracket 211, a second rotary bracket 212,the first fixing part 251, the second fixing part 252, a first arm 221,a second arm 222, a first rotary member 231 rotating about a first axisof rotation that is different from a first virtual axis 11, a secondrotary member 232 rotating about a second axis of rotation that isdifferent from a second virtual axis 12, a stopper 236, the cam part241, a first elastic body 242 a, a second elastic body 242 b, a supportbracket 243, a first idle gear 233, a second idle gear 234, a supportplate 235, and a plurality of fixing clips 291_1, 291_2, 292_1, 292_2,249_1, and 249_2. At least a part of the aforementioned components ofthe first hinge structure 200 a may be formed of a metallic material tohave a predetermined stiffness. Alternatively, the first hinge structure200 a may be formed of a material, such as reinforced plastic, resin, orthe like, as needed.

At least part of the shape of a lower surface (e.g., a surface facingthe −z-axis direction) of the fixed bracket 213 may include a curvedsurface. For example, the lower surface of the fixed bracket 213 may beformed to correspond to the shape of the inside of the hinge housing150. An upper surface (e.g., a surface facing the z-axis direction) ofthe fixed bracket 213 may have a flat shape, and rails grooves 213 a and213 b to which the rotary brackets 211 and 212 are coupled may be formedon the upper surface of the fixed bracket 213. According to anembodiment, the fixed bracket 213 may have a cross-section, at leastpart of which is formed in an arc shape in the direction from the uppersurface (e.g., the surface facing the z-axis direction) to the lowersurface (e.g., the surface facing the −z-axis direction), and the fixedbracket 213 may include the first rail groove 213 a into which a firstrail 211_3 of the first rotary bracket 211 is inserted in a seconddirection (e.g., the −y-axis direction) from a first direction (e.g.,the y-axis direction). According to an embodiment, the fixed bracket 213may have a cross-section, at least part of which is formed in an arcshape in the direction from the upper surface (e.g., the surface facingthe z-axis direction) to the lower surface (e.g., the surface facing the−z-axis direction), and the fixed bracket 213 may include the secondrail groove 213 b into which a second rail 212_3 of the second rotarybracket 212 is inserted in the first direction (e.g., the y-axisdirection) from the second direction (e.g., the −y-axis direction). Thefirst rail groove 213 a may be disposed to be biased in the y-axisdirection, compared to the second rail groove 213 b. The second railgroove 213 b may be disposed to be biased in the −y-axis direction,compared to the first rail groove 213 a. The first rail groove 213 a mayrotate about the first virtual axis 11, and the second rail groove 213 bmay rotate about the second virtual axis 12. The first virtual axis 11and the second virtual axis 12 may be formed in the air above the uppersurface (e.g., the surface facing the z-axis direction) of the fixedbracket 213. The first virtual axis 11 and the second virtual axis 12may be formed to be spaced apart from each other at a specifiedinterval. According to an embodiment, the fixed bracket 213 may includea first mounting recess 213_2 a and a second mounting recess 213_2 bthat are formed on a lateral portion of the fixed bracket 213 that isdisposed in a third direction (e.g., the x-axis direction). One end ofthe first rotary member 231 (e.g., at least part of a first mountingpart 231_3) may be mounted in the first mounting recess 213_2 a, and oneend of the second rotary member 232 (e.g., at least part of a secondmounting part 232_3) may be mounted in the second mounting recess 213_2b.

According to various embodiments, the fixed bracket 213 may include afirst fixing hole 213_1 a and a second fixing hole 213_1 b that are usedto fix the fixed bracket 213 to the hinge housing 150. In the electronicdevice 100, the fixed bracket 213 may be fixed to the hinge housing 150by using coupling members (e.g., screws or the like). According to anembodiment, the first fixing hole 213_1 a and the second fixing hole213_1 b may be symmetrically disposed on the upper surface (e.g., thesurface facing the z-axis direction) of the fixed bracket 213 in adiagonal direction to more firmly and stably fix the fixed bracket 213to the hinge housing 150.

The first rotary bracket 211 may include a first bracket body 211_1, afirst slide hole 211_2 formed at one end (e.g., an end facing the x-axisdirection) of the first bracket body 211_1, the first rail 211_3 formedat an opposite end (e.g., an end facing the −y-axis direction) of thefirst bracket body 211_1, and first housing coupling holes 211_4 used tocouple the first rotary bracket 211 with the first housing 110.

The first bracket body 211_1 may be formed in an overall “L” shape. Anupper surface (e.g., a surface disposed to face the z-axis direction) ofthe first bracket body 211_1 may be formed to be flat. With respect tothe illustrated drawing, the first slide hole 211_2 may be disposed at aright end (e.g., an end facing the x-axis direction) of the firstbracket body 211_1 in a lower direction (e.g., the −z-axis direction),and the first rail 211_3 may be disposed on a lower surface (e.g., asurface facing the −z-axis direction) at the opposite end (e.g., the endfacing the −y-axis direction) of the first bracket body 211_1.

The first slide hole 211_2 may be disposed at the one end (e.g., the endfacing the x-axis direction) of the first bracket body 211_1 and may bedisposed at the bottom of the first bracket body 211_1. The first slidehole 211_2 may be formed to be longer in the first direction (e.g., they-axis direction) than in the third direction (e.g., the x-axisdirection). Accordingly, the first fixing part 251 inserted into thefirst slide hole 211_2 may slide in the first slide hole 211_2 in anyone of the first direction (e.g., the y-axis direction) and the seconddirection (e.g., the −y-axis direction). The first slide hole 211_2 maybe disposed to face a surface of the first arm 221 that faces a fourthdirection (e.g., a surface disposed to face the −x-axis direction). Atleast a partial area of the first slide hole 211_2 may be aligned with afirst connecting part 221_2 of the first arm 221. Accordingly, at leastpart of the first fixing part 251 may be disposed in the first slidehole 211_2 and the first connecting part 221_2.

The first rail 211_3 may be disposed at the opposite end of the firstbracket body 211_1 that faces the second direction (e.g., the end facingthe −y-axis direction) and may be disposed at the bottom of the firstbracket body 211_1. The first rail 211_3 may have an arc shape with apredetermined internal angle. The first rail 211_3 may be inserted intothe first rail groove 213 a formed on the fixed bracket 213 and mayrotate in a specified angle range along the first rail groove 213 a.According to an embodiment, the first rail 211_3 may rotate, forexample, in the range of −10 degrees to 100 degrees (or 0 degrees to 90degrees). The first rail 211_3 may perform rotary motion between the yaxis and the z axis about the first virtual axis 11 formed by the firstrail groove 213 a.

The first housing coupling holes 211_4 may be formed adjacent to an edgeof the first bracket body 211_1 (e.g., an edge facing the y-axisdirection) and may be formed through the upper surface (e.g., thesurface facing the z-axis direction) and the lower surface (e.g., thesurface facing the −z-axis direction) of the first bracket body 211_1.In the illustrated drawing, it has been exemplified that two firsthousing coupling holes 211_4 are formed in the first bracket body 211_1.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. Coupling members may fixthe first rotary bracket 211 to the first housing 110 by being coupledwith bosses on the first housing 110 while being fastened to the firsthousing coupling holes 211_4.

The second rotary bracket 212 may include a second bracket body 212_1, asecond slide hole 212_2 formed at one end (e.g., an end facing thex-axis direction) of the second bracket body 212_1, the second rail212_3 formed at an opposite end (e.g., an end facing the y-axisdirection) of the second bracket body 212_1, and second housing couplingholes 212_4 used to couple the second rotary bracket 212 with the secondhousing 120.

The second bracket body 212_1 may have substantially the same shape asthe first bracket body 211_1. Accordingly, an upper surface (e.g., asurface disposed to face the z-axis direction) of the second bracketbody 212_1 may be formed to be flat.

The second slide hole 212_2 may be disposed at a right end (e.g., an endfacing the x-axis direction) of the second bracket body 212_1 and may bedisposed at the bottom of the second bracket body 212_1. The secondslide hole 212_2 may be disposed to be symmetric to the first slide hole211_2 with respect to the fixed bracket 213. The second slide hole 212_2may have the same shape as the first slide hole 211_2.

The second rail 212_3 may be disposed at the opposite end of the secondbracket body 212_1 that faces the first direction (e.g., the end facingthe y-axis direction) and may be disposed at the bottom of the secondbracket body 212_1. The second rail 212_3 may have substantially thesame shape as the first rail 211_3 and may be inserted into the secondrail groove 213 b. The second rail 212_3 may rotate about the secondvirtual axis 12 in a specified angle range, for example, in the range of80 degrees to 190 degrees (or 90 degrees to 180 degrees). For example,the second rail 212_3 may perform rotary motion in the range between the−y-axis and the z-axis.

The second housing coupling holes 212_4 may be formed adjacent to anedge of the second bracket body 212_1 (e.g., an edge facing the −y-axisdirection) and may be formed through the upper surface (e.g., thesurface facing the z-axis direction) and the lower surface (e.g., thesurface facing the −z-axis direction) of the second bracket body 212_1.

The first fixing part 251 may have a pin shape with a predeterminedlength in one direction. The first fixing part 251 may be formed to belonger than at least the sum of the length of the first slide hole 211_2and the length of the first connecting part 221_2 of the first arm 221.Opposite sides of the first fixing part 251 may be fixed after the firstfixing part 251 is inserted into the first slide hole 211_2 and thefirst connecting part 221_2. The first fixing part 251 may have asmaller diameter than the first connecting part 221_2. The first fixingpart 251 may be located in the first slide hole 211_2 and may slide inthe y-axis direction or the −y-axis direction.

The second fixing part 252 may have substantially the same shape as thefirst fixing part 251. The second fixing part 252 may be disposed to besymmetric to the first fixing part 251 with respect to the fixed bracket213, and at least part of the second fixing part 252 may be fixedlyinserted into the second slide hole 212_2 and a second connecting part222_2. One side of the second fixing part 252 may slide in the secondslide hole 212_2 in the y-axis direction or the −y-axis direction.

The first arm 221 may be fastened with the first rotary bracket 211through the first fixing part 251 and may rotate within a specifiedangle range in conjunction with the first rotary bracket 211 duringhinge motion. According to an embodiment, the first arm 221 may includea first basic body 221_1, the first connecting part 221_2, a firstinsertion part 221_3, and a first rotary cam 221_4.

An upper surface (e.g., a surface disposed to face the z-axis direction)of the first basic body 221_1 may be formed to be flat. The firstconnecting part 221_2 may be disposed on a lower surface (e.g., asurface facing the −z-axis direction) of an upper edge portion (e.g., anend portion facing the y-axis direction) of the first basic body 221_1.The first connecting part 221_2 may include a hole that is open in thefourth direction (e.g., the −x-axis direction). The first fixing part251 may be fixedly mounted in the first connecting part 221_2.

The first insertion part 221_3 may be disposed on a lower surface (e.g.,a surface facing the −z-axis direction) of a lower edge portion (e.g.,an end portion facing the −y-axis direction) of the first basic body221_1. The first insertion part 221_3 may include a hole that is open inthe fourth direction (e.g., the −x-axis direction) and that has an atleast partially angled cross-section. At least part of the first rotarymember 231 may be mounted in the first insertion part 221_3. The firstrotary cam 221_4 may be disposed on one side (e.g., an end facing thex-axis direction) of the first insertion part 221_3.

The first rotary cam 221_4 may include at least one ridge and valleydisposed in the direction in which the first rotary member 231 isinserted into and protrudes from the first insertion part 221_3.According to an embodiment, the ridge and the valley may include, at anend thereof, a flat area with a predetermined length. Accordingly, whilethe first rotary cam 221_4 rotates in a state of being engaged with afirst fixed cam 241_1 a of the cam part 241, a section in which an endof the ridge of the first rotary cam 221_4 is brought into contact withan end of a ridge of the first fixed cam 241_1 a may be formed by aspecified width. In the case where the section in which the end of theridge of the first rotary cam 221_4 is brought into contact with the endof the ridge of the first fixed cam 241_1 a is formed by the specifiedwidth, a mounting state of the first housing 110 and the second housing120 at a predetermined angle in the corresponding section may be morefirmly maintained, and mounting states in various angle ranges may beprovided.

The second arm 222 may have substantially the same configuration as thefirst arm 221. For example, the second arm 222 may include a secondbasic body 222_1, the second connecting part 222_2, a second insertionpart 222_3, and a second rotary cam 222_4. The second basic body 222_1may be disposed to be symmetric to the first basic body 221_1, and thesecond connecting part 222_2 may be fastened with one side of the secondfixing part 252. The second rotary member 232 may be inserted into thesecond insertion part 222_3, and the second rotary cam 222_4 may bedisposed to be engaged with a second fixed cam 241_1 b of the cam part241.

The first rotary member 231 may have one end mounted in the firstmounting recess 213_2 a formed on the fixed bracket 213. The firstrotary member 231 may be engaged with the first idle gear 233. The firstrotary member 231 may be disposed to pass through the stopper 236, thefirst insertion part 221_3, the first rotary cam 221_4, the first fixedcam 241_1 a of the cam part 241, and the first elastic body 242 a. Thefirst rotary member 231 may be fixed to the support bracket 243. Thefirst rotary member 231 may include a first shaft body 231_1, a firstshaft gear 231_2, and the first mounting part 231_3.

The first shaft body 231_1 may have a length sufficient to pass throughthe stopper 236, the first insertion part 221_3, the first rotary cam221_4, the first fixed cam 241_1 a, the first elastic body 242 a, and afirst support bracket hole 243_2 a of the support bracket 243. The firstshaft body 231_1 may be coupled with the first rotary cam 221_4 and mayhave an angled cross-section in the direction of the y axis to rotatethe first rotary cam 221_4 while being rotated by external pressure. Forexample, the first shaft body 231_1 may include a plurality of surfacesthat are flat in the lengthwise direction (e.g., the x-axis direction orthe −x-axis direction). Correspondingly, the inner wall of the firstinsertion part 221_3, on which the first rotary cam 221_4 is disposed,may have a shape corresponding to the cross-section of the first shaftbody 231_1. The first shaft gear 231_2 may be disposed on the firstshaft body 231_1 so as to be biased in the fourth direction (e.g., the−x-axis direction). The first shaft gear 231_2 may be engaged with thefirst idle gear 233.

The first mounting part 231_3 may protrude from a surface of the firstshaft gear 231_2 that faces the fourth direction (e.g., a surface facingthe −x-axis direction). At least part of the first mounting part 231_3may pass through a guide hole formed in the support plate 235 and may bemounted in the first mounting recess 213_2 a formed on the fixed bracket213. The first fixing part 251 may fix the first rotary bracket 211 andthe first arm 221, and therefore the first mounting part 231_3 may befirmly fixed to the first mounting recess 213_2 a to prevent separationor torsion of the first shaft body 231_1.

The second rotary member 232 may have one end mounted in the secondmounting recess 213_2 b formed on the fixed bracket 213. The secondrotary member 232 may be engaged with the second idle gear 234. Thesecond rotary member 232 may be disposed to pass through the stopper236, the second insertion part 222_3, the second rotary cam 222_4, thesecond fixed cam 241_1 b of the cam part 241, and the second elasticbody 242 b. The second rotary member 232 may be fixed to the supportbracket 243 at an opposite end thereof. The second rotary member 232 mayinclude a second shaft body 232_1, a second shaft gear 232_2, and thesecond mounting part 232_3.

The second shaft body 232_1 may have a length sufficient to pass throughthe stopper 236, the second insertion part 222_3, the second rotary cam222_4, the second fixed cam 241_1 b, the second elastic body 242 b, anda second support bracket hole 243_2 b of the support bracket 243. Thesecond shaft body 232_1 may have substantially the same shape and sizeas the first shaft body 231_1. The second shaft body 232_1 may bedisposed in a position spaced apart from the first shaft body 231_1 by apredetermined length. The second shaft gear 232_2 may have the sameshape and size as the first shaft gear 231_2 and may be disposed on thesecond shaft body 232_1. The position of the second shaft gear 232_2 maybe symmetric to the position of the first shaft gear 231_2. At leastpart of the second mounting part 232_3 may have the same shape and sizeas the first mounting part 231_3 and may be mounted in the secondmounting recess 213_2 b. In this process, at least part of the secondmounting part 232_3 may pass through a guide hole of the support plate235 and may be mounted in the second mounting recess 213_2 b. The secondmounting part 232_3 may be more firmly mounted in the second mountingrecess 213_2 b in the process in which the second fixing part 252 fixesthe second rotary bracket 212 and the second arm 222.

When pressure to cause the first arm 221 and the second arm 222 to bebeyond a specified angle range is applied, the stopper 236 may supportthe corresponding pressure to prevent the first arm 221 and the secondarm 222 from rotating through a specified angle or more. The stopper 236may include a stopper body 236_1, a first shaft insertion hole 236 ainto which the first shaft body 231_1 of the first rotary member 231 isinserted, and a second shaft insertion hole 236 b into which the secondshaft body 232_1 of the second rotary member 232 is inserted.

According to various embodiments, the stopper body 236_1 may be formedto further protrude beyond the surfaces of the first shaft insertionhole 236 a and the second shaft insertion hole 236 b in the thirddirection (e.g., the x-axis direction). The stopper body 236_1 may bedisposed to restrict the range of rotation of one side of the first arm221 (e.g., a surface of the first insertion part 221_3 that faces thefourth direction (e.g., a surface facing the −x-axis direction)) whilethe first arm 221 rotates, and the stopper body 236_1 may be disposed torestrict the range of rotation of one side of the second arm 222 (e.g.,a surface of the second insertion part 222_3 that faces the fourthdirection (e.g., a surface facing the −x-axis direction)) while thesecond arm 222 rotates.

One side of the first shaft insertion hole 236 a (e.g., a surface facingthe x-axis direction) may be disposed to face a surface of the firstinsertion part 221_3 of the first arm 221 that faces the fourthdirection (e.g., a surface facing the −x-axis direction), and one sideof the second shaft insertion hole 236 b (e.g., a surface facing thex-axis direction) may be disposed to face a surface of the secondinsertion part 222_3 of the second arm 222 that faces the fourthdirection (e.g., a surface facing the −x-axis direction). A surface ofthe stopper body 236_1 that faces the third direction (e.g., a surfacefacing the x-axis direction) may be disposed to face a surface of a cambody 241_1 of the cam part 241 that faces the fourth direction (e.g., asurface facing the −x-axis direction).

The cam part 241 may include the cam body 241_1, the first fixed cam241_1 a, the second fixed cam 241_1 b, a first cam hole 241_2 a, and asecond cam hole 241_2 b. The cam body 241_1 may have a predeterminedlength, and the first fixed cam 241_1 a and the second fixed cam 241_1 bmay be disposed at opposite edges of the cam body 241_1. The surface ofthe cam body 241_1 that faces the fourth direction (e.g., the surfacefacing the −x-axis direction) may be disposed to face the surface of thestopper body 236_1 that faces the third direction (e.g., the surfacefacing the x-axis direction). The first fixed cam 241_1 a may includeridges and valleys disposed in the fourth direction (e.g., the −x-axisdirection), and the first cam hole 241_2 a through which the firstrotary member 231 passes may be formed in the center of the first fixedcam 241_1 a. The first fixed cam 241_1 a may be engaged with the firstrotary cam 221_4. One side of the first elastic body 242 a may bebrought into contact with a surface of the first fixed cam 241_1 a thatfaces the third direction (e.g., a surface facing the x-axis direction).The second fixed cam 241_1 b may be disposed in the same direction asthe first fixed cam 241_1 a and may be disposed to be spaced apart fromthe first fixed cam 241_1 a by the length of the cam body 241_1 in they-axis direction. The second fixed cam 241_1 b may be engaged with thesecond rotary cam 222_4, and the second elastic body 242 b may bebrought into contact with a surface of the second fixed cam 241_1 b thatfaces the third direction (e.g., a surface facing the x-axis direction).The second cam hole 241_2 b through which the second rotary member 232passes may be formed in the center of the second fixed cam 241_1 b.

According to various embodiments, the cam part 241 may be moved backwardin the third direction (e.g., the x-axis direction) by the first rotarycam 221_4 and the second rotary cam 222_4 while the first arm 221 andthe second arm 222 rotate within a predetermined angle range, and thecam part 241 may be moved in the fourth direction (e.g., the −x-axisdirection) by the elasticity of the first elastic body 242 a and thesecond elastic body 242 b to return to the original position when theridges and valleys of the cams are engaged with each other.

The first elastic body 242 a may have a coil spring shape with an emptyspace inside. The first shaft body 231_1 of the first rotary member 231that passes through the first fixed cam 241_1 a may be inserted into thefirst elastic body 242 a. The first elastic body 242 a and the secondelastic body 242 b may be disposed between the cam part 241 and thesupport bracket 243 and may act to push the cam part 241 in the fourthdirection (e.g., the −x-axis direction) relative to the support bracket243 fixed. The second elastic body 242 b may be disposed to be spacedapart from the first elastic body 242 a at a specified interval and maybe disposed to be brought into contact with a surface of the secondfixed cam 241_1 b that faces the third direction (e.g., a surface facingthe x-axis direction).

The support bracket 243 may include a support part 243_1, the firstsupport bracket hole 243_2 a, and the second support bracket hole 243_2b. The support part 243_1 may include a through-hole 243_1 a formedthrough the support part 243_1 in the vertical direction (e.g., the−z-axis direction from one point on the z-axis). The through-hole 243_1a may be used to fix the support bracket 243 to the hinge housing 150.The first support bracket hole 243_2 a may be disposed to protrude fromone side of the support part 243_1 and may support one side of the firstelastic body 242 a. Furthermore, one end of the first rotary member 231may be inserted into the first support bracket hole 243_2 a. The secondsupport bracket hole 243_2 b may be disposed in a position spaced apartfrom the first support bracket hole 243_2 a by a predetermined distance.The second support bracket hole 243_2 b may be disposed to protrude froman opposite side of the support part 243_1 and may support one side ofthe second elastic body 242 b. Furthermore, one end of the second rotarymember 232 may be inserted into the second support bracket hole 243_2 b.

The first idle gear 233 may be disposed between the first shaft gear231_2 and the second shaft gear 232_2 and may be engaged with the firstshaft gear 231_2 and the second idle gear 234. The first idle gear 233may include a protrusion inserted into a guide hole formed in thesupport plate 235 and a protrusion fixed to a surface of the stopper 236that faces the fourth direction (e.g., a surface facing the −x-axisdirection).

The second idle gear 234 may be disposed between the first shaft gear231_2 and the second shaft gear 232_2 and may be engaged with the firstidle gear 233 and the second shaft gear 232_2. The second idle gear 234may be formed to have substantially the same shape and size as the firstidle gear 233. The second idle gear 234 may include a protrusioninserted into a guide hole formed in the support plate 235 and aprotrusion fixed to the surface of the stopper 236 that faces the fourthdirection (e.g., the surface facing the −x-axis direction). In thisregard, the stopper 236 may have, on the surface facing the fourthdirection (e.g., the surface facing the −x-axis direction), recesses orholes in which the protrusion of the first idle gear 233 and theprotrusion of the second idle gear 234 are mounted.

The support plate 235 may be disposed between the fixed bracket 213 andthe rotary members 231 and 232 and may be disposed to prevent separationof the rotary members 231 and 232 and the idle gears 233 and 234. Inthis regard, the support plate 235 may include a plurality of guideholes. For example, the support plate 235 may include the guide holethrough which the first mounting part 231_3 of the first rotary member231 passes, the guide hole through which the second mounting part 232_3of the second rotary member 231 passes, and the guide holes (or theguide recesses) in which the protrusion of the first idle gear 233 andthe protrusion of the second idle gear 234 are mounted.

The plurality of fixing clips 291_1, 291_2, 292_1, 292_2, 249_1, and249_2 may fix one or more components included in the first hingestructure 200 a to prevent the components from being separated from thecorresponding positions and may allow the corresponding components torotate. The plurality of fixing clips 291_1, 291_2, 292_1, 292_2, 249_1,and 249_2 may include, for example, a C-clip. The plurality of fixingclips 291_1, 291_2, 292_1, 292_2, 249_1, and 249_2 may include, forexample, the first fixing clip 291_1 for fixing the first fixing part251 to a surface of the first connecting part 221_2 that faces the thirddirection (e.g., a surface facing the x-axis direction), the secondfixing clip 291_2 for fixing the second fixing part 252 to a surface ofthe second connecting part 222_2 that faces the third direction (e.g., asurface facing the x-axis direction), the third fixing clip 292_1coupled to the first mounting part 231_3 to prevent the first mountingpart 231_3 of the first rotary member 231 from being separated from thesupport plate 235, the fourth fixing clip 292_2 coupled to the secondmounting part 232_3 to prevent the second mounting part 232_3 of thesecond rotary member 232 from being separated from the support plate235, the fifth fixing clip 249_1 coupled to an end of the first rotarymember 231 to prevent the first rotary member 231 from being separatedfrom the first support bracket hole 243_2 a of the support bracket 243,and the sixth fixing clip 249_2 coupled to an end of the second rotarymember 232 to prevent the second rotary member 232 from being separatedfrom the second support bracket hole 243_2 b of the support bracket 243.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of a cam structure of the hinge structureaccording to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cam structure of the hinge structure accordingto an embodiment may include the first arm 221, the cam part 241, andthe second arm 222. As mentioned above, the first arm 221 may includethe first basic body 221_1, the first connecting part 221_2, the firstinsertion part 221_3, and the first rotary cam 221_4, and the second arm222 may include the second basic body 222_1, the second connecting part222_2, the second insertion part 222_3, and the second rotary cam 222_4.The second rotary cam 222_4 (or the first rotary cam 221_4) may includeat least one ridge 222_4 a and valley 222_4 b. The top of the ridge222_4 a may include a flat area with a predetermined width. Similarly tothe top of the ridge 222_4 a, the bottom of the valley 222_4 b mayinclude a flat area with a predetermined width. The size and shape ofthe flat area at the top of the ridge 222_4 a may be the same as orsimilar to the size and shape of the flat area at the bottom of thevalley 222_4 b.

The upper surface of the first basic body 221_1 of the first arm 221 maybe formed to be flat and may be disposed adjacent to the first bracketbody 211_1 of the first rotary bracket 211. The first basic body 221_1may be disposed side by side with the first bracket body 211_1 when theelectronic device 100 is in the first state (e.g., a flat state) or thesecond state (e.g., a folded state). Alternatively, the upper surface ofthe first basic body 221_1 may have the same height as the upper surfaceof the first bracket body 211_1. The second basic body 222_1 of thesecond arm 221 may be disposed adjacent to the second bracket body 212_1of the second rotary bracket 212. In the first state (e.g., a flatstate) and the second state (e.g., a folded state), the upper surface ofthe second basic body 222_1 may have the same height as the uppersurface of the second bracket body 212_1.

The cam part 241 may include the cam body 241_1, the first fixed cam241_1 a, and the second fixed cam 241_1 b. The first fixed cam 241_1 amay be disposed to be engaged with the first rotary cam 221_4 of thefirst arm 221. The first fixed cam 241_1 a may have the first cam hole241_2 a formed in the center thereof. Part of the first rotary member231 may be inserted into the first cam hole 241_2 a of the first fixedcam 241_1 a. The first fixed cam 241_1 a may include a ridge and avalley to correspond to the shape of the first rotary cam 221_4. Theridge may include, at the top, a flat area with a specified length, andthe valley may include, at the bottom, a flat area with a specifiedlength. The second fixed cam 241_1 b may be formed to have substantiallythe same shape and size as the first fixed cam 241_1 a and may have thesecond cam hole 241_2 b formed in the center thereof, and at least partof the second rotary member 232 may be inserted into the second cam hole241_2 b. The second fixed cam 241_1 b may be disposed to be engaged withthe second rotary cam 222_4. The shapes of a ridge and a valley of thesecond fixed cam 241_1 b may be provided in forms that correspond to theshapes of the ridge and the valley of the second rotary cam 222_4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of a stopper connecting structure of the hingestructure according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6, the stopper connecting structure of the hingestructure according to an embodiment may include the first arm 221, thesecond arm 222, the first rotary member 231, the second rotary member232, and the stopper 236.

As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the first rotary member 231may include the first shaft body 231_1, the first shaft gear 231_2, andthe first mounting part 231_3 that are continuously disposed. The firstshaft body 231_1 may have a specified length such that the stopper 236,the first insertion part 221_3, the first rotary cam 221_4, the cam part241, and the first elastic body 242 a are mounted on the first shaftbody 231_1. With regard to rotation of the first arm 221, at least partof the exterior of the first shaft body 231_1 may have an angled shape(e.g., a polygonal cross-sectional shape or a shape including aplurality of faces). The first shaft body 231_1 may have, on end portionthereof (e.g., an end portion on the opposite side to the first mountingpart 231_3), a first fixing groove 231_1 a into which a fixing clip(e.g., the fifth fixing clip 249_1) is inserted to fix the first shaftbody 231_1 to the support bracket 243. A second fixing groove 231_1 amay be disposed on one side of the first mounting part 231_3, and afixing clip (e.g., the third fixing clip 292_1) may be inserted into thesecond fixing groove 231_1 a to prevent the first mounting part 231_3inserted into and mounted in the first mounting recess 213_2 a frombeing separated from the support plate 235.

Similarly to the first rotary member 231, the second rotary member 232may include the second shaft body 232_1, the second shaft gear 232_2,and the second mounting part 232_3 that are continuously disposed. Thesecond shaft body 232_1 may be provided similarly or identically to thefirst shaft body 231_1. The second shaft body 232_1 may have, on endportion thereof (e.g., an end portion on the opposite side to the secondmounting part 232_3), a third fixing groove 232_1 a into which a fixingclip (e.g., the sixth fixing clip 249_2) is inserted to fix the secondshaft body 232_1 to the support bracket 243. A fourth fixing groove232_3 a may be disposed on one side of the second mounting part 232_3,and a fixing clip (e.g., the fourth fixing clip 292_2) may be insertedinto the fourth fixing groove 232_3 a to prevent the second mountingpart 232_3 inserted into and mounted in the second mounting recess 213_2b from being separated from the support plate 235.

The stopper 236 may include the stopper body 236_1, the first shaftinsertion hole 236 a, and the second shaft insertion hole 236 b. Thefirst shaft insertion hole 236 a may be disposed between the first arm221 mounted on the first shaft body 231_1 and the first shaft gear231_2. The second shaft insertion hole 236 b may be disposed between thesecond arm 222 mounted on the second shaft body 232_1 and the secondshaft gear 232_2. The stopper body 236_1 may include a first stopper236_2 a disposed to support one side 221_1 a of the first arm 221 whenthe electronic device 100 is in a flat state and a second stopper 236_2b disposed to support one side 222_1 a of the second arm 222 when theelectronic device 100 is in the flat state. According to an embodiment,the stopper body 236_1 may include a third stopper 236_2 c disposed tosupport an opposite side 221_1 b of the first arm 221 when theelectronic device 100 is in a folded state and a fourth stopper 236_2 ddisposed to support an opposite side 222_1 b of the second arm 222 whenthe electronic device 100 is in the folded state. Based on the structureof the stopper 236 described above, the first arm 221 and the second arm222 may be supported so as not to additionally rotate in the rotatingdirections in the flat state or the folded state.

FIG. 7 illustrates a view of a first state of some components of theelectronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 7, some components of the electronic devicemay include the first hinge structure 200 a and the display 160, and thefirst hinge structure 200 a and the display 160 may have the first state(e.g., a flat state).

As described above, the first hinge structure 200 a may include thefirst rotary bracket 211, the second rotary bracket 212, the fixedbracket 213, the first arm 221, the second arm 222, the gear structure230 including the shaft gears and the idle gears of the first rotarymember 231 and the second rotary member 232, the cam part 241, the firstelastic body 242 a, the second elastic body 242 b, the first rotarymember 231, the second rotary member 232, and the support bracket 243.The first rotary bracket 211 may be connected with the first arm 221through the first fixing part 251. The second rotary bracket 212 may beconnected with the second arm 222 through the second fixing part 252.

The display 160 may remain in a flat state while the first rotarybracket 211 and the second rotary bracket 212 are maintained in a flatstate. The first arm 221 may rotate about the first rotary member 231within a specified angle range. The second arm 222 may rotate about thesecond rotary member 232 within the specified angle range. The firstrotary bracket 211 may rotate about the first virtual axis 11 within anangle range that is similar to, or the same as, that of the first arm221. The second rotary bracket 212 may rotate about the second virtualaxis 12 within an angle range that is similar to, or the same as, thatof the second arm 222. The first virtual axis 11 may be formed in ahigher position than the first rotary member 231 in the direction towardthe display 160. The second virtual axis 12 may be formed in a higherposition than the second rotary member 232 in the direction toward thedisplay 160. The interval between the first virtual axis 11 and thesecond virtual axis 12 may be shorter than the interval between thefirst rotary member 231 and the second rotary member 232. According tovarious embodiments, the first virtual axis 11 and the second virtualaxis 12 may be formed side by side on a horizontal axis. According to anembodiment, the first virtual axis 11 and the second virtual axis 12 maybe formed at the same height as the display 160, or may be formed abovethe display 160 (e.g., in the air above the display 160.).

The first bracket body 211_1 of the first rotary bracket 211 and thesecond bracket body 212_1 of the second rotary bracket 212 may bedisposed side by side while the first rotary bracket 211 and the secondrotary bracket 212 are maintained in a flat state. According to anembodiment, the upper surface of the first bracket body 211_1 and theupper surface of the second bracket body 212_1 may be identicallydisposed to face upward with respect to the illustrated drawing.According to an embodiment, the first arm 221 and the second arm 222 mayalso be disposed side by side while the first rotary bracket 211 and thesecond rotary bracket 212 are maintained in the flat state, and thusboth the first basic body 221_1 of the first arm 221 and the secondbasic body 222_1 of the second arm 222 may face the same direction(e.g., the upper direction with respect to the illustrated drawing).Accordingly, the first bracket body 211_1, the second bracket body212_1, the first basic body 221_1, and the second basic body 222_1 mayall be disposed side by side with respect to the horizontal axis and mayall be disposed to face the same upper direction with respect to theillustrated drawing. The first bracket body 211_1, the second bracketbody 212_1, the first basic body 221_1, and the second basic body 222_1may support the rear surface of the display 160 without a heightdifference therebetween.

According to various embodiments, a predetermined gap Gap_1 may beformed between the central portion 163 of the display 160, which isbendable, and the hinge structures 200 a and 200 b. An adhesive layermay be disposed on peripheral areas (e.g., the upper portion 161 or thelower portion 162) other than the central portion 163 of the display160.

FIG. 8 illustrates a view of a first specified angle state of the firsthinge structure according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 8, the first hinge structure 200 a may includethe first specified angle state. As described above, the first hingestructure 200 a may include the first rotary bracket 211, the secondrotary bracket 212, the fixed bracket 213, the first arm 221, the secondarm 222, the gear structure 230, the cam part 241, the first elasticbody 242 a, the second elastic body 242 b, the first rotary member 231,the second rotary member 232, and the support bracket 243. The firstrotary bracket 211 may be connected with the first arm 221 through thefirst fixing part 251. The second rotary bracket 212 may be connectedwith the second arm 222 through the second fixing part 252.

A first housing (e.g., the first housing 110 of FIG. 1A) to which thefirst rotary bracket 211 is fixed or a second housing (e.g., the secondhousing 120 of FIG. 1A) to which the second rotary bracket 212 is fixedmay be rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction of a verticalaxis 803 from one point on a horizontal axis 801 with respect to theillustrated drawing by external pressure. For example, the first rotarybracket 211 connected to the first housing 110 may rotate about thefirst virtual axis 11 by a first angle (e.g., 30 degrees) in thedirection of the vertical axis 803 (e.g., the z axis of FIG. 4) from onepoint on the horizontal axis 801 (e.g., the −y-axis or the y axis ofFIG. 4) (e.g., in the direction of the vertical axis 803 from the rightwith respect to the illustrated drawing). When the first rotary bracket211 is rotated by the first angle by external pressure, thecorresponding pressure may be transmitted to the first arm 221 throughthe first fixing part 251. Accordingly, the first arm 221 may rotateabout the first rotary member 231 by the first angle in the direction ofthe vertical axis 803 on the horizontal axis 801. In this operation, theforce depending on the rotary motion may be transmitted to the firstrotary cam 221_4 and the first insertion part 221_3. The first rotarymember 231, one side of which is inserted into the first insertion part221_3, may rotate as the first insertion part 221_3 rotates, and thefirst shaft gear 231_2 of the first rotary member 231 may rotatedepending on the rotation of the first rotary member 231. The first idlegear 233 and the second idle gear 234 engaged with each other may rotatedepending on the rotation of the first shaft gear 231_2. Consequently,the second shaft gear 232_2 may rotate, and the second rotary member 232may rotate correspondingly. The second insertion part 222_3 may rotatedepending on the rotation of the second rotary member 232, the secondarm 222 may rotate depending on the rotation of the second insertionpart 222_3, and the second rotary bracket 212 connected to the secondarm 222 through the second fixing part 252 may rotate depending on therotation of the second arm 222.

As described above, the first hinge structure 200 a may have thestructure in which the first rotary bracket 211 and the second rotarybracket 212 are simultaneously rotated by external pressure (or force).Accordingly, the first rotary bracket 211 and the second rotary bracket212 may be simultaneously rotated even though external pressure isapplied to the second housing 120 to which the second rotary bracket 212is connected, or external pressure is simultaneously applied to thefirst housing 110 and the second housing 120. As the first housing 110and the second housing 120 of the electronic device 100 of thedisclosure are simultaneously rotated, torsion of the first housing 110and the second housing 120 may be suppressed, and accurate hinge motionmay be performed.

According to various embodiments, the ridge of the first rotary cam221_4 and the ridge of the second rotary cam 222_4 may remain broughtinto contact with the vicinity of the top of the ridge of the firstfixed cam 241_1 a and the vicinity of the top of the ridge of the secondfixed cam 241_1 b as the first arm 221 and the second arm 222 rotate bythe first specified angle.

According to an embodiment, the first virtual axis 11 of the firstrotary bracket 211 and the second virtual axis 12 of the second rotarybracket 212 may be disposed between the first rotary member 231 of thefirst arm 221 and the second rotary member 232 of the second arm 222,and therefore the amount of rotation of the first rotary bracket 211 maydiffer from the amount of rotation of the first arm 221. Accordingly,the upper surface of the first bracket body 211_1 of the first rotarybracket 211 may further protrude upward beyond the upper surface of thefirst basic body 221_1 of the first arm 221 with respect to thehorizontal axis 801. As the first rotary bracket 211 and the first arm221 are connected through the first fixing part 251, the first fixingpart 251 may slide a predetermined distance along the first slide hole211_2 of the first rotary bracket 211 while the first rotary bracket 211rotates. Similarly, the upper surface of the second bracket body 212_1may be rotated to further protrude beyond the second basic body 222_1with respect to the horizontal axis 801. Furthermore, as the secondrotary bracket 212 and the second arm 222 are connected through thesecond fixing part 252, the second fixing part 252 may slide apredetermined distance along the second slide hole 212_2 of the secondrotary bracket 212 while the second rotary bracket 212 rotates.

FIG. 9 illustrates a view of a second specified angle state of the firsthinge structure according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 9, the first hinge structure 200 a may includethe second specified angle state. The first hinge structure 200 a mayinclude, for example, the first rotary bracket 211, the second rotarybracket 212, the fixed bracket 213, the first arm 221, the second arm222, the gear structure 230, the cam part 241, the first elastic body242 a, the second elastic body 242 b, the first rotary member 231, thesecond rotary member 232, and the support bracket 243. The first rotarybracket 211 may be connected with the first arm 221 through the firstfixing part 251, and the second rotary bracket 212 may be connected withthe second arm 222 through the second fixing part 252.

A first housing (e.g., the first housing 110 of FIG. 1A) or a secondhousing (e.g., the second housing 120 of FIG. 1A) may be rotated by asecond angle (e.g., 60 degrees) in the direction of the vertical axis803 from one point on the horizontal axis 801 with respect to theillustrated drawing by external pressure (or force). For example, whenexternal pressure or force is transmitted to the first housing 110 orthe second housing 120, the first rotary bracket 211 or the secondrotary bracket 212 may rotate about the first virtual axis 11 or thesecond virtual axis 12 by the second angle (e.g., 60 degrees) in thedirection of the vertical axis 803 from one point on the horizontal axis801 (e.g., in the direction of the vertical axis 803 from the right withrespect to the illustrated drawing). In the process of performing theabove-described operation, the applied force may be mutually transmittedthrough the first arm 221 or the second arm 222, the first rotary member231, the second rotary member 232, and the gear structures 230, and thefirst rotary bracket 211, the second rotary bracket 212, the first arm221, and the second arm 222 may simultaneously rotate.

When the first rotary bracket 211 and the second rotary bracket 212rotate through the second angle, the first fixing part 251 and thesecond fixing part 252 may slide closer to the fixed bracket 213 in thefirst slide hole 211_2 and the second slide hole 212_2 than when thefirst rotary bracket 211 and the second rotary bracket 212 rotatethrough the first angle. In the above operation process, the first rail211_3 of the first rotary bracket 211 may rotate outward from the centerof the fixed bracket 213 to the right with respect to the illustrateddrawing, and the second rail 212_3 of the second rotary bracket 212 mayrotate outward from the center of the fixed bracket 213 to the left withrespect to the illustrated drawing. As the axes of rotation of the firstrotary bracket 211 and the first arm 221 differ from each other and theaxes of rotation of the second rotary bracket 212 and the second arm 222differ from each other, the distance between the upper surface of thefirst bracket body 211_1 and the upper surface of the second bracketbody 212_1 may be formed to be shorter than the distance between theupper surface of the first basic body 221_1 and the upper surface of thesecond basic body 222_1 with an approach to the fixed bracket 213.

FIG. 10 illustrates a view of a second state of some structures of theelectronic device according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 10, the electronic device 100 may include thefirst hinge structure 200 a and the display 160. The second state of thefirst hinge structure 200 a may include a folded state. The first hingestructure 200 a may include, for example, the fixed bracket 213, thefirst rotary bracket 211, the second rotary bracket 212, the first arm221, the second arm 222, the first fixing part 251, the second fixingpart 252, the first rotary member 231, the second rotary member 232, thegear structure 230 including the shaft gears of the first rotary member231 and the second rotary member 232, the first elastic body 242 a, thesecond elastic body 242 b, and the support bracket 243.

In the above-described structure, the first rotary bracket 211 and thesecond rotary bracket 212 may be disposed to face each other. As theedges of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are locatedadjacent to each other with respect to the illustrated drawing, thefirst rotary bracket 211 may rotate about the first virtual axis 11 andmay be inclined to the left at a specified angle with respect to thevertical axis 803 in the illustrated drawing. Furthermore, the secondrotary bracket 212 may rotate about the second virtual axis 12 and maybe inclined to the right at the specified angle with respect to thevertical axis 803. The first virtual axis 11 may be the central axis ofrotation of the first rail 211_3, and the second virtual axis 12 may bethe central axis of rotation of the second rail 212_3. The first arm 221may rotate about the first rotary member 231 and may be located side byside with the first rotary bracket 211, and the second arm 222 mayrotate about the second rotary member 232 and may be located side byside with the second rotary bracket 212. Accordingly, the centralportion of the display 160 may be bent in a “U” shape, and the remainingarea may be maintained in a flat state.

As the first rotary bracket 211 and the first arm 221 are verticallylocated (or inclined to the left at the specified angle with respect tothe vertical axis 803), the upper surface of the first bracket body211_1 of the first rotary bracket 211 and the upper surface of the firstbasic body 221_1 of the first arm 221 may be disposed side by sidewithout a height difference therebetween. Due to the difference inlength between the first rotary bracket 211 and the first arm 221, thefirst fixing part 251 may be located at the lower edge of the firstslide hole 211_2 of the first rotary bracket 211. When the electronicdevice 100 is in a flat state, the first fixing part 251 may be locatedat the upper edge of the first slide hole 211_2 of the first rotarybracket 211. Similarly, when the electronic device 100 is in a foldedstate, the second fixing part 252 may be located at the lower edge ofthe second slide hole 212_2.

The first rotary bracket 211 may rotate outward from the central portionof the fixed bracket 213 to the right with respect to the illustrateddrawing while the electronic device 100 is changed from a first state toa second state (e.g., a folded state), and the first rotary bracket 211may rotate in the direction from the right side of the fixed bracket 213to the central portion thereof with respect to the illustrated drawingwhile the electronic device 100 is changed from the second state to thefirst state (e.g., a flat state). According to an embodiment, the secondrotary bracket 212 may rotate outward from the central portion of thefixed bracket 213 to the left with respect to the illustrated drawingwhile the electronic device 100 is changed from the first state to thesecond state (e.g., a folded state), and the second rotary bracket 212may rotate in the direction from the left side of the fixed bracket 213to the central portion thereof with respect to the illustrated drawingwhile the electronic device 100 is changed from the second state to thefirst state (e.g., a flat state). While the electronic device 100 ismaintained in the folded state, the ridges and valleys of the cam part241 may be engaged with the valleys and ridges of the rotary camsdisposed on the first arm 221 and the second arm 222. Accordingly, thefirst elastic body 242 a and the second elastic body 242 b may return tothe initial state (e.g., a released state) from a state of beingcompressed in the first specified angle state and the second specifiedangle state.

FIG. 11 illustrates a view of an additional structure of the first hingestructure according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 11, the first hinge structure 200 a (or the secondhinge structure 200 b) may include the fixed bracket 213, the firstrotary bracket 211, the second rotary bracket 212, the first arm 221,the second arm 222, the first fixing part 251, the second fixing part252, the first rotary member 231, the second rotary member 232, the gearstructure 230 including the shaft gears of the first rotary member 231and the second rotary member 232 and the idle gears, the cam part 241,the first elastic body 242 a, the second elastic body 242 b, and thesupport bracket 243. Additionally or alternatively, at least one washerring and a ring plate 237 may be further added.

The at least washer ring may include, for example, a first washer ring238_1 a and a second washer ring 238_1 b that are mounted on the firstrotary member 231. The first washer ring 238_1 a may be disposed betweenthe cam part 241, one side of which is mounted on the first rotarymember 231, and the ring plate 237. The second washer ring 238_1 b maybe disposed between the ring plate 237 and the first elastic body 242 a.

According to an embodiment, the at least washer ring may include, forexample, a third washer ring 238_2 a and a fourth washer ring 238_2 bthat are mounted on the second rotary member 232. The third washer ring238_2 a may be disposed between the cam part 241, an opposite side ofwhich is mounted on the second rotary member 232, and the ring plate237. The fourth washer ring 238_2 b may be disposed between the ringplate 237 and the second elastic body 242 b.

The ring plate 237 may include a guide hole into which the first rotarymember 231 is inserted and a guide hole into which the second rotarymember 232 is inserted. The ring plate 237 may be disposed between thefirst washer ring 238_1 a and the second washer ring 238_1 b and betweenthe third washer ring 238_2 a and the fourth washer ring 238_2 b. Thering plate 237 may serve as a support part during generation offrictional forces of the washer rings 238_1 a, 238_1 b, 238_2 a, and238_2 b and may provide frictional force to enable the first hingestructure 200 a to be mounted at various angles of the first rotarymember 231 and the second rotary member 232 by the washer rings 238_1 a,238_1 b, 238_2 a, and 238_2 b.

According to various embodiments, a third elastic body 251 a and a fifthwasher ring 251 b may be additionally mounted on the first fixing part251, and the first fixing clip 291_1 for fixing the first fixing part251 to the first arm 221 may be disposed. The fifth washer ring 251 bmay be disposed between the third elastic body 251 a and the firstfixing clip 291_1. The third elastic body 251 a may serve to more firmlybring one end (e.g., the first connecting part 221_2) of the first arm221 into contact with one end (e.g., the first slide hole 211_2) of thefirst rotary bracket 211. The fifth washer ring 25_1 b may increasefrictional force in the contact process between the first rotary bracket211 and the first arm 221, thereby enabling the first hinge structure200 a to be mounted at various angles. Similarly to the above-describedstructure, the second fixing part 252 may additionally include a fourthelastic body 252 a and a sixth washer ring 252 b, and the second fixingclip 291_2 for fixing the second fixing part 252 may be disposed on oneside of the second arm 222.

According to various embodiments, a hinge structure 200 may include afirst rotary bracket 211 that rotates about a first virtual axis 11within a first range, a second rotary bracket 212 that rotates about asecond virtual axis 12 within a second range, a fixed bracket 213 havingthe first rotary bracket and the second rotary bracket fixed thereto, afirst rotary member that rotates about a first axis of rotationdifferent from the first virtual axis, a second rotary member thatrotates about a second axis of rotation different from the secondvirtual axis, a first arm 221 including a first basic body 221_1, afirst connecting part 221_2 disposed on one side of the first basic bodyand connected with the first rotary bracket, a first insertion part221_3 having one side mounted on the first rotary member, and a firstrotary cam 221_4 disposed adjacent to the first insertion part, a secondarm 222 including a second basic body 222_1, a second connecting part222_2 disposed on one side of the second basic body and connected withthe second rotary bracket, a second insertion part 222_3 having one sidemounted on the second rotary member 232, and a second rotary cam 222_4disposed adjacent to the second insertion part, a cam part 241 havingbumpy structures corresponding to the first rotary cam and the secondrotary cam, a first elastic body 242 a that is mounted on the firstrotary member and that supports at least one side of the cam part in adirection toward the first arm, a second elastic body 242 b that ismounted on the second rotary member and that supports at least anopposite side of the cam part in a direction toward the second arm, anda support bracket 243 that supports the first elastic body and thesecond elastic body.

According to various embodiments, the first rotary bracket may rotate ina direction from the center of the fixed bracket to the outside thereofwhile being changed from a horizontal state to a vertical state, thefirst rotary bracket may rotate in a direction from the outside of thefixed bracket to the center thereof while being changed from thevertical state to the horizontal state, and the second rotary bracketmay simultaneously rotate in an opposite direction while the firstrotary bracket rotates.

According to various embodiments, a first fixing part that fixes thefirst arm may move in a direction from an outer portion of a first slidehole to an inner portion thereof while the first rotary bracket ischanged from a horizontal state to a vertical state, the first fixingpart that fixes the first arm may move in a direction from the innerportion of the first slide hole to the outer portion thereof while thefirst rotary bracket is changed from the vertical state to thehorizontal state, and a second fixing part may operate in the samemanner as the first fixing part.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude at least one of a first fixing clip 291_1 that is disposed at anend of a first fixing part and that fixes the first fixing part to thefirst arm and a second fixing clip 291_2 that is disposed at an end of asecond fixing part and that fixes the second fixing part to the secondarm.

According to various embodiments, the first rotary member may include afirst insertion part 231_3 mounted on one side of the fixed bracket, afirst shaft body 231_1 fixed to one side of the support bracket, and afirst shaft gear 231_2 disposed between the first insertion part and thefirst shaft body, and the second rotary member may include a secondinsertion part 232_3 mounted on the one side of the fixed bracket, asecond shaft body 232_1 fixed to the one side of the support bracket,and a second shaft gear 232_2 disposed between the second insertion partand the second shaft body.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude a first idle gear 233 engaged with the first shaft gear and asecond idle gear 234 engaged with the first idle gear and the secondshaft gear.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude a support plate 235 that includes guide holes into which thefirst insertion part and the second insertion part are inserted and thatfixes one side of the first idle gear and one side of the second idlegear.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude at least one of a third fixing clip 292_1 disposed at an end ofthe first insertion part to prevent the first insertion part from beingseparated from the support plate and a fourth fixing clip 292_2 disposedat an end of the second insertion part to prevent the second insertionpart from being separated from the support plate.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude a stopper 236 that is mounted on one side of the first rotarymember and one side of the second rotary member and that faces one sideof the first insertion part and one side of the second insertion part toprevent the first arm and the second arm from rotating through aspecified angle or more.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude a fifth fixing clip 249_1 disposed at an end of the first rotarymember to prevent the first rotary member from being separated from thesupport bracket and a sixth fixing clip 249_2 disposed at an end of thesecond rotary member to prevent the second rotary member from beingseparated from the support bracket.

According to various embodiments, the first virtual axis and the secondvirtual axis may be formed between the first rotary member and thesecond rotary member.

According to various embodiments, the first virtual axis and the secondvirtual axis may be formed at a specified height above the first rotarymember and the second rotary member.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude at least one of a ring plate 237 disposed between the cam partand the first elastic body or the second elastic body, a first washerring 238_1 a disposed between the cam part and the ring plate andmounted on the first rotary member, and a second washer ring 238_2 adisposed between the cam part and the ring plate and mounted on thesecond rotary member.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude at least one of a third washer ring 238_1 b disposed between thering plate and the first elastic body and mounted on the first rotarymember and a fourth washer ring 238_2 b disposed between the ring plateand the second elastic body and mounted on the second rotary member.

According to various embodiments, top portions of ridges 222_4 a of thefirst rotary cam or the second rotary cam may include a flat area havinga specified width, and bottom portions of valleys 222_4 b of the firstrotary cam or the second rotary cam may include a flat area having aspecified width.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude at least one of a third elastic body 251 a disposed between thefirst fixing part and the first fixing clip and a fourth elastic body252 a disposed between the second fixing part and the second fixingclip.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude at least one of a fifth washer ring 25_1 b disposed between thethird elastic body and the first fixing clip and a sixth washer ring 252b disposed between the fourth elastic body and the second fixing clip.

According to various embodiments, the first rotary member 231 and thesecond rotary member 232 may be mounted on one side of the fixed bracketso as to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval.

According to various embodiments, the hinge structure may furtherinclude a first fixing part 251 that is fixed to the first connectingpart 221_2 through a first slide hole 211_2 formed on one side of thefirst rotary bracket and that slides along the first slide hole and asecond fixing part 252 that is fixed to the second connecting part 222_2through a second slide hole 212_2 formed on one side of the secondrotary bracket and that slides along the second slide hole.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include afirst housing 110, a second housing 120, a hinge structure 200 thatconnects the first housing and the second housing and supports hingemotion of the first housing or the second housing, a hinge housing 150that surrounds the hinge structure, and a display 160 disposed on thefirst housing and the second housing. At least the upper portion 161 orthe lower portion 162 of the flexible display may be attached to atleast part of an upper side of the first housing or an upper side of thesecond housing, and at least part of a central portion 163 of theflexible display is disposed to have a specified gap from the hingestructure. The hinge structure may include a first rotary bracket thatis coupled with the first housing and that rotates about a first virtualaxis within a first range, a second rotary bracket that is coupled withthe second housing and that rotates about a second virtual axis within asecond range, a fixed bracket having the first rotary bracket and thesecond rotary bracket fixed thereto, a first arm that is connected withthe first rotary bracket on one side thereof and that has a first rotarycam formed on an opposite side thereof, a second arm that is connectedwith the second rotary bracket on one side thereof and that has a secondrotary cam formed on an opposite side thereof, and a cam part havingbumpy structures corresponding to the first rotary cam and the secondrotary cam.

According to various embodiments, a first fixing part that fixes thefirst arm may move in a direction from an outer portion of a first slidehole to an inner portion thereof while the first rotary bracket ischanged from a horizontal state to a vertical state, the first fixingpart that fixes the first arm may move in a direction from the innerportion of the first slide hole to the outer portion thereof while thefirst rotary bracket is changed from the vertical state to thehorizontal state, and a second fixing part may operate in the samemanner as the first fixing part.

FIG. 12 illustrates a view of one example of a folded state of theelectronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, when the first housing 110 and the second housing120 of the electronic device 100 are in the folded state, a gap Gap_2,as illustrated, may be formed in the area where the hinge housing 150 iscoupled with the first housing 110 or the second housing 120. The gapGap_2 may be caused by the height of a sidewall of the hinge housing150, and when the hinge structures 200 are in the folded state, the gapGap_2 of the hinge housing 150 may be observed from the outside. The gapGap_2 may be formed to prevent the hinge housing 150 from hinderinghinge motions of the hinge structures 200 while the hinge structures 200are folded or unfolded. Accordingly, when the electronic device 100 isin the folded state, the gap Gap_2 may be observed between the hingehousing 150 and the hinge structures 200. The observation of the gapGap_2 may be a factor that reduces the completeness of the electronicdevice 100 in appearance. For example, a part of the hinge structures200 disposed inside may be observed from the outside through the gapGap_2.

FIG. 13 illustrates a view of another example of a folded state of theelectronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 13, ends of lateral portions 158 a and 158 b of thehinge housing 150 may be formed in higher positions than ends of thefirst housing 110 and the second housing 120 by a specified height inthe direction of the vertical axis 803 when the first housing 110 andthe second housing 120 are in the folded state. Accordingly, when theelectronic device 100 is in the folded state, only the hinge housing 150may be observed from the outside, and no separate gaps may be observedat the boundaries between the hinge housing 150 and the housings 110 and120. In this regard, as the ends of the lateral portions 158 a and 158 bof the hinge housing 150 are formed in higher positions than the ends ofthe first housing 110 and the second housing 120 by the specified heightin the direction of the vertical axis 803, first and second receivinggrooves 221_9 and 222_9 may be disposed on predetermined areas of thefirst arm 221 and the second arm 222 to prevent a collision with thefirst arm 221 and the second arm 222. The first and second receivinggrooves 221_9 and 222_9 may include, for example, the first receivinggroove 221_9 disposed at an end of the first arm 221 and the secondreceiving groove 222_9 disposed at an end of the second arm 222. Whenthe electronic device 100 is in a flat state, the first lateral portion158 a of the hinge housing 150 may be received in the first receivinggroove 221_9, and the second lateral portion 158 b of the hinge housing150 may be received in the second receiving groove 222_9.

According to various embodiments, as the ends of the lateral portions158 a and 158 b of the hinge housing 150 are formed in higher positionsthan the ends of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 by thespecified height in the direction of the vertical axis 803, third andfourth receiving grooves 211_9 and 212_9 may be disposed on the firstrotary bracket 211 and the second rotary bracket 212. The thirdreceiving groove 211_9 may be formed on a central portion of the firstrotary bracket 211 (e.g., between the first rail 211_3 and the firsthousing coupling holes 211_4 illustrated in FIG. 4). Similarly, thefourth receiving groove 212_9 may be formed on a central portion of thesecond rotary bracket 212 (e.g., between the second rail 212_3 and thesecond housing coupling hole 212_4 illustrated in FIG. 4). When theelectronic device 100 is in the flat state, the first lateral portion158 a may be received in the third receiving groove 211_9, and thesecond lateral portion 158 b may be received in the fourth receivinggroove 212_9.

In accordance with the use of the structure described above, the heightsof the lateral portions 158 a and 158 b of the hinge housing 150 in thedirection of the vertical axis 803 may be greater than the depths of thefirst housing 110 and the second housing 120 in the opposite directionto the direction of the vertical axis 803. For example, when theelectronic device 100 is in the folded state, the first lateral portion158 a may be located inside the first housing 110 and may be disposed ina higher position than the lower end of the first housing 110, and whenviewed in the direction of the horizontal axis 801, at least part of thefirst lateral portion 158 a may overlap the end of the first housing110. Similarly, when the electronic device 100 is in the folded state,the second lateral portion 158 b may be located inside the secondhousing 120 and may be disposed in a higher position than the lower endof the second housing 120, and when viewed in the direction of thehorizontal axis 801, at least part of the second lateral portion 158 bmay overlap the end of the second housing 120.

FIG. 14 illustrates a view of a hinge housing and hinge structuresaccording to various embodiments, and FIG. 15 illustrates an explodedperspective view of the hinge structure illustrated in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, according to an embodiment, a third hingestructure 200 c and a fourth hinge structure 200 d may be disposed on ahinge housing 150.

The third hinge structure 200 c may be disposed on one side of the hingehousing 150 (e.g., on a left side with respect to the illustrateddrawing). The third hinge structure 200 c may be coupled with a leftside of a first housing 110 (e.g., the first housing 110 of FIG. 1A) anda left side of a second housing 120 (e.g., the second housing 120 ofFIG. 1A) and may rotate about a horizontal axis of the hinge housing 150within a specified range. The third hinge structure 200 c may bedisposed to be symmetric to the fourth hinge structure 200 d withrespect to a central portion of the hinge housing 150.

The fourth hinge structure 200 d may be disposed on an opposite side ofthe hinge housing 150 (e.g., on a right side with respect to theillustrated drawing). The fourth hinge structure 200 d may be coupledwith a right side of the first housing 110 (e.g., the first housing 110of FIG. 1A) and a right side of the second housing 120 (e.g., the secondhousing 120 of FIG. 1A) and may rotate about the horizontal axis of thehinge housing 150 within the specified range. The fourth hinge structure200 d may be disposed to be symmetric to the third hinge structure 200 cwith respect to the central portion of the hinge housing 150. The fourthhinge structure 200 d may include the same structure and configurationas the third hinge structure 200 c. However, the position of the fourthhinge structure 200 d may differ from the position of the third hingestructure 200 c.

The hinge housing 150 may have a semi-cylindrical shape with an emptyspace inside, or may have the shape of a longitudinal half of a pipewith opposite ends closed. The hinge housing 150 may have the samestructure as the hinge housing described above with reference to FIG. 2and may be formed of the same material as that of the hinge housingdescribed above with reference to FIG. 2.

The third hinge structure 200 c (or the fourth hinge structure 200 d)may include a fixed bracket 1513, a first rotary bracket 1511, a secondrotary bracket 1512, a first fixing part 1551, a second fixing part1552, a first arm 1521, a second arm 1522, a first rotary member 1531, asecond rotary member 1532, a cam part 1541, a first elastic body 1542 a,a second elastic body 1542 b, a support bracket 1543, a first idle gear1533, a second idle gear 1534, a support plate 1535, and a plurality offixing clips 1591_1, 1591_2, 1592_1, 1592_2, 1549_1, and 1549_2. Atleast some of the aforementioned components of the third hinge structure200 c (or the fourth hinge structure 200 d) may be formed of a metallicmaterial to have a predetermined stiffness. Alternatively, the thirdhinge structure 200 c (or the fourth hinge structure 200 d) may containa material, such as reinforced plastic or resin, as needed.

At least part of the shape of a lower surface (e.g., a surface facingthe −z-axis direction) of the fixed bracket 1513 may include a curvedsurface. For example, the lower surface of the fixed bracket 1513 may beformed to correspond to the shape of the inside of the hinge housing150. An upper surface (e.g., a surface facing the z-axis direction) ofthe fixed bracket 1513 may have a flat shape, and rails grooves 1513 aand 1513 b to which the rotary brackets 1511 and 1512 are coupled may beformed on the upper surface of the fixed bracket 1513. The rail grooves1513 a and 1513 b may have the same shape and arrangement as the railgrooves 213 a and 213 b described above with reference to FIG. 4.Accordingly, the first rotary bracket 1511 and the second rotary bracket1512 that are inserted into the rail grooves 1513 a and 1513 b mayrotate in the same manner as the first rotary bracket 211 and the secondrotary bracket 212 described above with reference to FIG. 4.

According to various embodiments, the fixed bracket 1513 may include aprotrusion 1513_1 that protrudes in the third direction (e.g., thex-axis direction), and at least parts of opposite sides (e.g., a sidefacing the y-axis direction and a side facing the −y-axis direction) ofthe protrusion 1513_1 may be formed to be curved surfaces. At least partof the first arm 1521 and at least part of the cam part 1541 may bemounted on one side of the protrusion 1513_1, and at least part of thesecond arm 1522 and at least part of the cam part 1541 may be mounted onan opposite side of the protrusion 1513_1. A first mounting recess1513_2 a and a second mounting recess 1513_2 b may be disposed onlateral portions of the fixed bracket 1513 that face the third direction(e.g., the x-axis direction) and that are disposed on opposite sides ofthe protrusion 1513_1. One side of the first rotary member 1531 and oneside of the second rotary member 1532 may be mounted in the firstmounting recess 1513_2 a and the second mounting recess 1513_2 b,respectively. Alternatively, one side of the first rotary member 1531that passes through one side of the support bracket 1543, the firstelastic body 1542 a, and the cam part 1541 may be mounted in the firstmounting recess 1513_2 a, and one side of the second rotary member 1532that passes through an opposite side of the support bracket 1543, thesecond elastic body 1542 b, and the cam part 1541 may be mounted in thesecond mounting recess 1513_2 b.

The structures of the first rotary bracket 1511 and the second rotarybracket 1512 may be the same as, or similar to, the structures of thefirst rotary bracket 211 and the second rotary bracket 212 describedabove with reference to FIG. 4. Additionally or alternatively, bracketbodies of the first rotary bracket 1511 and the second rotary bracket1512 may be formed to be wider than the first bracket body 211_1 and thesecond bracket body 212_1 described above with reference to FIG. 4.

The first fixing part 1551 may have a pin shape with a predeterminedlength in one direction. The first fixing part 1551 may pass through atleast a slide hole of the first rotary bracket 1511 and may be mountedin a connecting part of the first arm 1521 and fixed in the thirddirection (e.g., the x-axis direction) by the first fixing clip 1591_1.One side of the first fixing part 1551 may slide in the slide hole ofthe first rotary bracket 1511 in the y-axis direction or the −y-axisdirection.

The second fixing part 1552 may have substantially the same shape as thefirst fixing part 1551. The second fixing part 1552 may be disposed tobe symmetric to the first fixing part 1551 with respect to the fixedbracket 1513, and at least part of the second fixing part 1552 may befixedly inserted into a slide hole of the second rotary bracket 1512 anda connecting part of the second arm 1522 in the third direction (e.g.,the x-axis direction). One side of the second fixing part 1552 may slidein the slide hole of the second rotary bracket 1512 in the y-axisdirection or the −y-axis direction.

The first arm 1521 may be fastened with the first rotary bracket 1511through the first fixing part 1551 and may rotate within a specifiedangle range in conjunction with the first rotary bracket 1511 duringhinge motion. According to an embodiment, the first arm 1521 may includea first insertion part 1521_3 and a first rotary cam 1521_4 and mayinclude, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, components thatcorrespond to the first basic body 221_1 and the first connecting part221_2.

The first rotary cam 1521_4 may include at least one ridge and valleydisposed in the direction in which the first rotary member 1531 isinserted into and protrudes from the first insertion part 1521_3.According to an embodiment, the ridge and the valley may include, at anend thereof, a flat area with a predetermined length. The first rotarycam 1521_4 and at least part of the first insertion part 1521_3 may bemounted on the one side of the protrusion 1513_1 of the fixed bracket1513.

The second arm 1522 may have substantially the same configuration as thefirst arm 1521. For example, the second arm 1522 may include a secondinsertion part 1522_3 and a second rotary cam 1522_4. The second rotarymember 1532 may be inserted into the second insertion part 1522_3, andthe second rotary cam 1522_4 may be disposed to be engaged with anopposite side of the cam part 1541.

One end of the first rotary member 1531 that passes through the supportbracket 1543, the first elastic body 1542 a, one side of the cam part1541, and the first insertion part 1521_3 may be mounted in the firstmounting recess 1513_2 a formed on the fixed bracket 1513. One side ofthe first rotary member 1531 may be fixed by the third fixing clip1592_1, and an opposite side of the first rotary member 1531 may beengaged with the first idle gear 1533 and may be fixed to the supportplate 1535 through the fifth fixing clip 1549_1. The first rotary member1531 may include a first shaft body 1531_1, a first shaft gear 1531_2,and a first mounting part 1531_3.

The first shaft body 1531_1 may be disposed to pass through one side ofthe support bracket 1543, the first elastic body 1542 a, the firstinsertion part 1521_3, the first rotary cam 1521_4, and one side of thecam part 1541 in the fourth direction (e.g., the −x-axis direction) fromthe third direction (e.g., the x-axis direction). The first shaft gear1531_2 may be disposed on the first shaft body 1531_1 so as to be biasedin the third direction (e.g., the x-axis direction). The first shaftgear 1531_2 may be disposed to be engaged with the first idle gear 1533.

The first mounting part 1531_3 may be formed to protrude from a surfaceof the first shaft gear 1531_2 that faces the third direction (e.g., asurface facing the x-axis direction). At least part of the firstmounting part 1531_3 may pass through a guide hole formed in the supportplate 1535, and the first mounting part 1531_3 may be fixed to thesupport plate 1535 through the fifth fixing clip 1549_1 to preventseparation or torsion of the first shaft body 1531_1.

One end of the second rotary member 1532 that passes through the supportbracket 1543, the second elastic body 1542 b, one side of the cam part1541, and the second insertion part 1522_3 may be mounted in the secondmounting recess 1513_2 b formed on the fixed bracket 1513. One side ofthe second rotary member 1532 may be fixed by the fourth fixing clip1592_2, and an opposite side of the second rotary member 1532 may beengaged with the second idle gear 1534 and may be fixed to the supportplate 1535 through the sixth fixing clip 1549_2. The second rotarymember 1532 may include a second shaft body 1532_1, a second shaft gear1532_2, and a second mounting part 1532_3.

The second shaft body 1532_1 may have substantially the same shape andsize as the first shaft body 1531_1. The second shaft body 1532_1 may bedisposed in a position spaced apart from the first shaft body 1531_1 bya predetermined length. The second shaft gear 1532_2 may have the sameshape and size as the first shaft gear 1531_2 and may be disposed on thesecond shaft body 1532_1. The position of the second shaft gear 1532_2may be symmetric to the position of the first shaft gear 1531_2. Atleast part of the second mounting part 1532_3 may have the same shapeand size as the first mounting part 1531_3. In this process, at leastpart of the second mounting part 1532_3 may pass through a guide hole ofthe support plate 1535 and may be fixed by the sixth fixing clip 1549_2.

The cam part 1541 may have the same structure and shape as the cam part241 described above with reference to FIG. 4. The cam part 1541 may bedisposed between the first and second arms 1521 and 1522 and the firstand second elastic bodies 1542 a and 1542 b. At least part of the campart 1541 may be mounted on at least part of the protrusion 1513_1 ofthe fixed bracket 1513.

The first elastic body 1542 a may have a coil spring shape with an emptyspace inside. The first shaft body 1531_1 of the first rotary member1531 that passes through the support bracket 1543 may be inserted intothe first elastic body 1542 a.

The shape and size of the second elastic body 1542 b may be the same as,or similar to, the shape and size of the first elastic body 1542 a. Thesecond elastic body 1542 b may have a coil spring shape with an emptyspace inside. The second shaft body 1532_1 of the second rotary member1532 that passes through the support bracket 1543 may be inserted intothe second elastic body 1542 b.

The first elastic body 1542 a and the second elastic body 1542 b may bedisposed between the cam part 1541 and the support bracket 1543 and mayact to push the cam part 1541 in the fourth direction (e.g., the −x-axisdirection) relative to the support bracket 1543 fixed to the hingehousing 150. The second elastic body 1542 b may be disposed to be spacedapart from the first elastic body 1542 a at a specified interval.

The support bracket 1543 may include a support part that supports atleast part of the first elastic body 1542 a and at least part of thesecond elastic body 1542 b, guide holes through which the first shaftbody 1531_1 of the first rotary member 1531 and the second shaft body1532_1 of the second rotary member 1532 pass, and mounting recesses inwhich one side of the first idle gear 1533 and one side of the secondidle gear 1534 are mounted.

The first idle gear 1533 may be disposed between the first shaft gear1531_2 and the second shaft gear 1532_2 and may be engaged with thefirst shaft gear 1531_2 and the second idle gear 1534. The first idlegear 1533 may include a protrusion inserted into a guide hole formed inthe support plate 1535 and may be fixed to a recess formed on thesupport bracket 1543 so as to be rotatable.

The second idle gear 1534 may be disposed between the first shaft gear1531_2 and the second shaft gear 1532_2 and may be engaged with thefirst idle gear 1533 and the second shaft gear 1532_2. The second idlegear 1534 may be formed to have substantially the same shape and size asthe first idle gear 1533. The second idle gear 1534 may include aprotrusion inserted into a guide hole formed in the support plate 1535and a protrusion inserted into a mounting recess formed on the supportbracket 1543.

The support plate 1535 may be disposed to prevent separation of therotary members 1531 and 1532 and the idle gears 1533 and 1534. In thisregard, the support plate 1535 may include a plurality of guide holes.For example, the support plate 1535 may include a guide hole throughwhich the first mounting part 1531_3 of the first rotary member 1531passes, a guide hole through which the second mounting part 1532_3 ofthe second rotary member 1532 passes, and guide holes (or guiderecesses) in which the protrusion of the first idle gear 1533 and theprotrusion of the second idle gear 1534 are mounted.

The plurality of fixing clips 1591_1, 1591_2, 1592_1, 1592_2, 1549_1,and 1549_2 may fix one or more components included in the third hingestructure 200 c (or the fourth hinge structure 200 d) to prevent thecomponents from being separated from the corresponding positions and mayallow the corresponding components to rotate. The plurality of fixingclips 1591_1, 1591_2, 1592_1, 1592_2, 1549_1, and 1549_2 may include,for example, a C-clip. The plurality of fixing clips 1591_1, 1591_2,1592_1, 1592_2, 1549_1, and 1549_2 may include, for example, the firstfixing clip 1591_1 for fixing the first fixing part 1551 to a surface ofthe first arm 1521 that faces the third direction (e.g., a surfacefacing the x-axis direction), the second fixing clip 1591_2 for fixingthe second fixing part 1552 to a surface of the second arm 1522 thatfaces the third direction (e.g., a surface facing the x-axis direction),the third fixing clip 1592_1 coupled with one end of the first shaftbody 1531_1 of the first rotary member 1531 (e.g., an end on theopposite side to the point where the first mounting part 1531_3 isdisposed), the fourth fixing clip 1592_2 coupled to one end of thesecond shaft body 1532_1 of the second rotary member 1532 (e.g., an endon the opposite side to the point where the second mounting part 1532_3is disposed), the fifth fixing clip 1549_1 disposed to fix the firstmounting part 1531_3 to a surface of the support plate 1535 that facesthe third direction (e.g., a surface facing the x-axis direction), andthe sixth fixing clip 1549_2 disposed to fix the second mounting part1532_3 to the surface of the support plate 1535 that faces the thirddirection (e.g., the surface facing the x-axis direction).

In the above-described hinge structure (e.g., the third hinge structure200 c or the fourth hinge structure 200 d) of the disclosure, the gearstructure may be located a specified distance from the area where therotary brackets and the fixed bracket are coupled.

An electronic device including a hinge structure according to anembodiment of the disclosure may include a first rotary member thatrotates about a first axis, a second rotary member that rotates about asecond axis, a first arm having a first connecting part, a secondconnecting part, and a first cam structure, the first connecting partbeing connected with the first rotary member, and the second connectingpart being connected with the second rotary member, a second arm havinga third connecting part, a fourth connecting part, and a second camstructure, a cam member including a first cam engaged with the first camstructure and a second cam engaged with the second cam structure, afirst elastic body that is connected with the first rotary member andthat applies elastic force to the cam member, a second elastic body thatis connected with the second rotary member and that applies elasticforce to the cam member, a first rotary bracket having a first slidehole and a first rail, a second rotary bracket having a second slidehole and a second rail, and a fixed bracket having a first guide groovecorresponding to the first rail and a second guide groove correspondingto the second rail. The first slide hole of the first rotary bracket andthe second connecting part may be connected through a first fixing part,and the second slide hole of the second rotary bracket and the fourthconnecting part may be connected through a second fixing part. The firstfixing part may slide in the first slide hole to correspond to rotationof the first arm, and the second fixing part may slide in the secondslide hole to correspond to rotation of the second arm. The first rotarybracket may rotate about a third axis, and the second rotary bracket mayrotate about a fourth axis.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude a first housing and a second housing. The first housing may beconnected with the first rotary bracket and may be rotated about thethird axis, and the second housing may be connected with the secondrotary bracket and may be rotated about the fourth axis.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude a display placed on the first housing and the second housing,and the first axis and the second axis may be formed below the displaywhen the electronic device is in a flat state.

According to various embodiments, the third axis and the fourth axis maybe formed in higher positions in a direction toward the display than thefirst axis and the second axis.

According to various embodiments, an interval between the first axis andthe second axis may be greater than an interval between the third axisand the fourth axis.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude at least one washer ring disposed between the first rotarymember and the first elastic body and between the second rotary memberand the second elastic body.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude at least one of a first washer ring coupled to an end of thefirst fixing part disposed to pass through the first connecting part anda second washer ring coupled to an end of the second fixing partdisposed to pass through the second connecting part.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude at least one of a first elastic member disposed between the endof the first fixing part and the first washer ring and a second elasticmember disposed between the end of the second fixing part and the secondwasher ring.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude a stopper disposed between the first rotary member and thesecond connecting part of the first arm and between the second rotarymember and the fourth connecting part of the second arm to prevent thefirst arm and the second arm from rotating through a specified angle ormore.

The hinge structures and the electronic devices including the sameaccording to the various embodiments may provide various functionsrelated to hinge motion in a relatively narrow arrangement area. Forexample, a hinge structure and an electronic device including the sameaccording to an embodiment enable simultaneous rotary motions of aplurality of housings while providing a feeling of detent and supportingvarious mounting angles during hinge motions of the housings, therebysuppressing torsion of the housings during the rotary motions.

Various other aspects and effects provided by the hinge structures andthe electronic devices including the same according to the variousembodiments may be mentioned depending on the embodiments.

Each component (e.g., a module or a program module) according to variousembodiments may be composed of single entity or a plurality of entities,a part of the above-described sub-components may be omitted, or othersub-components may be further included in various embodiments.Alternatively or additionally, after being integrated in one entity,some components (e.g., a module or a program module) may identically orsimilarly perform the function executed by each corresponding componentbefore integration. According to various embodiments, operationsexecuted by modules, program, or other components may be executed by asuccessive method, a parallel method, a repeated method, or a heuristicmethod, or at least one part of operations may be executed in differentsequences or omitted. Alternatively, other operations may be added.

Although the present disclosure has been described with variousembodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable communication device comprising: ahousing including a first housing and a second housing; a hinge receivedin the housing and connected to the first housing and the secondhousing; and a flexible display disposed over the first housing of thehousing, the hinge, and the second housing, wherein the hinge includes:a first rotary member configured to rotate about a first axis; a secondrotary member configured to rotate about a second axis; a first armincluding a first connecting part and a second connecting part, whereinthe first connecting part is connected with the first rotary member; asecond arm including a third connecting part and a fourth connectingpart, wherein the third connecting part is connected with the secondrotary member; a first rotary bracket including a first sliding hole anda first rail; a second rotary bracket including a second sliding holeand a second rail; and a fixed bracket including a first guide groovecorresponding to the first rail and a second guide groove correspondingto the second rail, wherein the first sliding hole of the first rotarybracket and the second connecting part are connected through a firstfixing part, and the second sliding hole of the second rotary bracketand the fourth connecting part are connected through a second fixingpart, wherein the first fixing part slides in the first sliding hole tocorrespond to rotation of the first arm, and the second fixing partslides in the second sliding hole to correspond to rotation of thesecond arm, and wherein at least part of the flexible display is bent tocorrespond to rotation of the first rotary bracket about a third axisand rotation of the second rotary bracket about a fourth axis.
 2. Theportable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first housing isconnected with the first rotary bracket and rotated about the thirdaxis, and wherein the second housing is connected with the second rotarybracket and rotated about the fourth axis.
 3. The portable communicationdevice of claim 2, wherein the first axis and the second axis are formedunder the flexible display when the portable communication device is ina flat state.
 4. The portable communication device of claim 1, whereinthe third axis and the fourth axis are formed in higher positions in adirection toward the flexible display than the first axis and the secondaxis.
 5. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein aninterval between the first axis and the second axis is greater than aninterval between the third axis and the fourth axis.
 6. The portablecommunication device of claim 1, further comprising: a first camstructure formed in the first arm; a second cam structure formed in thesecond arm; a cam member including a first cam engaged with the firstcam structure and a second cam engaged with the second cam structure; afirst elastic body connected with the first rotary member and configuredto apply elastic force to the cam member; and a second elastic bodyconnected with the second rotary member and configured to apply elasticforce to the cam member.
 7. The portable communication device of claim6, further comprising: at least one washer ring disposed in at least oneof a space between the first rotary member and the first elastic bodyand a space between the second rotary member and the second elasticbody.
 8. The portable communication device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first washer ring fastened to an end of the first fixingpart disposed to pass through the first connecting part; and a secondwasher ring fastened to an end of the second fixing part disposed topass through the second connecting part.
 9. The portable communicationdevice of claim 8, further comprising at least one of: a first elasticmember disposed between the end of the first fixing part and the firstwasher ring; and a second elastic member disposed between the end of thesecond fixing part and the second washer ring.
 10. The portablecommunication device of claim 1, further comprising: a stopper disposedbetween the first rotary member and the second connecting part of thefirst arm and between the second rotary member and the fourth connectingpart of the second arm to prevent the first arm and the second arm fromrotating through a specified angle or more.
 11. A hinge structurecomprising: a first rotary bracket configured to rotate about a firstvirtual axis within a first range; a second rotary bracket configured torotate about a second virtual axis within a second range; a fixedbracket including the first rotary bracket and the second rotary bracketfixed thereto; a first rotary member configured to rotate about a firstaxis of rotation different from the first virtual axis and a secondrotary member configured to rotate about a second axis of rotationdifferent from the second virtual axis; a first arm including a firstbasic body, a first connecting part disposed on one side of the firstbasic body and connected with the first rotary bracket, a firstinsertion part having one side mounted on the first rotary member, and afirst rotary cam disposed adjacent to the first insertion part; a secondarm including a second basic body, a second connecting part disposed onone side of the second basic body and connected with the second rotarybracket, a second insertion part having one side mounted on the secondrotary member, and a second rotary cam disposed adjacent to the secondinsertion part; a cam part including bumpy structures corresponding tothe first rotary cam and the second rotary cam; a first elastic bodymounted on the first rotary member and configured to support at leastone side of the cam part in a direction toward the first arm; a secondelastic body mounted on the second rotary member and configured tosupport at least an opposite side of the cam part in a direction towardthe second arm; and a support bracket configured to support the firstelastic body and the second elastic body.
 12. The hinge structure ofclaim 11, wherein: the first rotary bracket rotates in a direction froma center of the fixed bracket to the outside thereof while being changedfrom a horizontal state to a vertical state, the first rotary bracketrotates in a direction from the outside of the fixed bracket to thecenter thereof while being changed from the vertical state to thehorizontal state, and the second rotary bracket simultaneously rotatesin an opposite direction while the first rotary bracket rotates.
 13. Thehinge structure of claim 11, wherein: a first fixing part configured to:fix the first arm from moving in a direction from an outer portion of afirst slide hole to an inner portion thereof while the first rotarybracket is changed from a horizontal state to a vertical state, and fixthe first arm from moving in a direction from the inner portion of thefirst slide hole to the outer portion thereof while the first rotarybracket is changed from the vertical state to the horizontal state, anda second fixing part operates in the same manner as the first fixingpart.
 14. The hinge structure of claim 11, further comprising at leastone of: a first fixing clip disposed at an end of a first fixing partand configured to fix the first fixing part to the first arm; and asecond fixing clip disposed at an end of a second fixing part andconfigured to fix the second fixing part to the second arm.
 15. Thehinge structure of claim 11, wherein the first rotary member includes: afirst insertion part mounted on one side of the fixed bracket; a firstshaft body fixed to one side of the support bracket; and a first shaftgear disposed between the first insertion part of the first rotary andthe first shaft body, wherein the second rotary member includes: asecond insertion part mounted on the one side of the fixed bracket; asecond shaft body fixed to the one side of the support bracket; and asecond shaft gear disposed between the second insertion part of thesecond rotary member and the second shaft body.
 16. The hinge structureof claim 15, further comprising at least one of: a first idle gearengaged with the first shaft gear; and a second idle gear engaged withthe first idle gear and the second shaft gear.
 17. The hinge structureof claim 16, further comprising: a support plate including guide holesinto which the first insertion part and the second insertion part areinserted, the support plate being configured to fix one side of thefirst idle gear and one side of the second idle gear.
 18. The hingestructure of claim 17, further comprising at least one of: a thirdfixing clip disposed at an end of the first insertion part to preventthe first insertion part from being separated from the support plate;and a fourth fixing clip disposed at an end of the second insertion partto prevent the second insertion part from being separated from thesupport plate.
 19. The hinge structure of claim 15, further comprising:a stopper mounted on one side of the first rotary member and one side ofthe second rotary member and configured to face one side of the firstinsertion part and one side of the second insertion part to prevent thefirst arm and the second arm from rotating through a specified angle ormore.
 20. The hinge structure of claim 11, further comprising at leastone of: a fifth fixing clip disposed at an end of the first rotarymember to prevent the first rotary member from being separated from thesupport bracket; and a sixth fixing clip disposed at an end of thesecond rotary member to prevent the second rotary member from beingseparated from the support bracket.
 21. The hinge structure of claim 11,wherein the first virtual axis and the second virtual axis are formedbetween the first rotary member and the second rotary member.
 22. Thehinge structure of claim 21, wherein the first virtual axis and thesecond virtual axis are formed at a specified height above the firstrotary member and the second rotary member.
 23. The hinge structure ofclaim 11, further comprising at least one of: a ring plate disposedbetween the cam part and the first elastic body or the second elasticbody; a first washer ring disposed between the cam part and the ringplate and mounted on the first rotary member; and a second washer ringdisposed between the cam part and the ring plate and mounted on thesecond rotary member.
 24. The hinge structure of claim 23, furthercomprising at least one of: a third washer ring disposed between thering plate and the first elastic body and mounted on the first rotarymember; and a fourth washer ring disposed between the ring plate and thesecond elastic body and mounted on the second rotary member.
 25. Thehinge structure of claim 11, wherein: top portions of ridges of thefirst rotary cam or the second rotary cam include a flat area of aspecified width, and bottom portions of valleys of the first rotary camor the second rotary cam include a flat area of a specified width. 26.The hinge structure of claim 14, further comprising at least one of: athird elastic body disposed between the first fixing part and the firstfixing clip; a fourth elastic body disposed between the second fixingpart and the second fixing clip; a fifth washer ring disposed betweenthe third elastic body and the first fixing clip; and a sixth washerring disposed between the fourth elastic body and the second fixingclip.
 27. The hinge structure of claim 11, wherein the first rotarymember and the second rotary member are mounted on one side of the fixedbracket so as to be spaced apart from each other at a predeterminedinterval.
 28. The hinge structure of claim 11, further comprising: afirst fixing part fixed to the first connecting part through a firstslide hole formed on one side of the first rotary bracket, the firstfixing part being configured to slide along the first slide hole; and asecond fixing part fixed to the second connecting part through a secondslide hole formed on one side of the second rotary bracket, the secondfixing part being configured to slide along the second slide hole. 29.An electronic device comprising: a first housing; a second housing; ahinge structure configured to connect the first housing and the secondhousing and support hinge motion of the first housing or the secondhousing; a hinge housing configured to surround the hinge structure; anda flexible display disposed on the first housing and the second housing,wherein at least part of the flexible display is attached to at leastpart of an upper side of the first housing or an upper side of thesecond housing, wherein at least part of a central portion of theflexible display is disposed to form a specified gap from the hingestructure, and wherein the hinge structure includes: a first rotarybracket coupled with the first housing and configured to rotate about afirst virtual axis within a first range; a second rotary bracket coupledwith the second housing and configured to rotate about a second virtualaxis within a second range; a fixed bracket including the first rotarybracket and the second rotary bracket fixed thereto; a first armconnected with the first rotary bracket on one side thereof, the firstarm including a first rotary cam formed on an opposite side thereof; asecond arm connected with the second rotary bracket on one side thereof,the second arm including a second rotary cam formed on an opposite sidethereof; and a cam part including bumpy structures corresponding to thefirst rotary cam and the second rotary cam.
 30. The electronic device ofclaim 29, wherein a first fixing part configured to: fix the first armfrom moving in a direction from an outer portion of a first slide holeto an inner portion thereof while the first rotary bracket is changedfrom a horizontal state to a vertical state, fix the first arm frommoving in a direction from the inner portion of the first slide hole tothe outer portion thereof while the first rotary bracket is changed fromthe vertical state to the horizontal state, and wherein a second fixingpart operates in the same manner as the first fixing part.